On Saturday July 11th at 12:00 noon the public is invited to attend a dedication ceremony for the Fallen Heroes Memorial Plaza located in Cherry Hill Park. This impressive memorial is a project sponsored by the Coeur d’Alene Rotary Club and the Coeur d’Alene Parks Foundation. These organizations as well as the Coeur d’Alene Police and Fire Department have participated in fundraising efforts to complete the Memorial Plaza.The public has an opportunity to purchase an engraved brick in time for the ceremony if their order is received by June 30th. Brick pavers will continue to be available for naming opportunities in the future.
The Fallen Heroes Plaza site is linked with the 911 memorial Playground to emphasize the community service nature of law enforcement and firefighting.
The Memorial hosts five sculptures of public safety officers which are twelve feet high. The sculptures, designed by regional artist Brian M. Schmid, will stand in various poses honoring their fallen comrades; as represented by a vacant sculpture site. They are dedicated to Idaho firefighters and law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty throughout Idaho’s history. They shall not be forgotten.
A steel artifact from the World Trade Center in New York is anchored in a basalt column at one entrance to the memorial. Coeur d’Alene Fire Department commissioned two tall basalt columns that represent the Twin Towers.
Fire and Police Honor Guards will kick off the ceremony followed by a speech from Mayor Bloem, Police Chief Wayne Longo, Fire Chief Kenny Gabriel, and Steve Roberge from Coeur d’Alene Rotary.
The festivities start in the morning with the Parks Day celebration. A free breakfast will be served at 8:00am at Shadduck Lane Park. After the memorial dedication a free lunch will be served to the public at Cherry Hill Park. These events are sponsored by the Parks Foundation. To learn more about how to make a donation or place an order for a naming opportunity visit our website at http://www.cdapolice.org/
Coeur d’Alene Police Captain Steve Childers stated “I appreciate the partnership of public safety officials, our community service groups and individual donors in our community who continue to work together on this important memorial. Please plan on attending this event.”
For a Fallen Heroes Plaza click here. For a Parks Day celebration brochure click here.
