A fundraising effort has been launched to expand the California Firefighters Memorial Wall at Capitol Park in Sacramento.
As KNX News' Margaret Carrero reports, the wall, initially dedicated in 2002 with a little over 800 firefighters' names on it, has since added more than 700 names.
Rick Martinez, Executive Director of the California Fire Foundation, said, "We have 1,527 firefighters on our memorial in Capitol Park, and we've run out of room, unfortunately."
Martinez said many of the firefighters they find themselves honoring these days have died from cancer.
"Firefighters contract cancer at a much greater rate than the general public, and it's been tied back to their direct exposure at work," he said.
The goal is to raise $12 million for the expansion.
According to a press release from the foundation, "The expansion will provide the capacity to honor an additional 4600 firefighters over the next 150 years. The artist at the helm of the California Firefighters Memorial expansion design is Adan Romo, a sculptor, teacher, artist, and the son of late, retired Sacramento Battalion Chief Jesus Romo. Jesus is the artist who created the awe-inspiring Fallen Brother sculpture, iconically placed in front of the Memorial Wall."
The foundation has also launched the Firefighters Memorial Oral History Project to gather stories of fallen firefighters across the state.
"Residents, friends and family of fallen firefighters across California are invited to share their stories, from kind gestures to favorite memories, to be part of the new Firefighters Memorial Oral History Project. The Project aims to preserve the memories of our heroes. Stories can be shared easily via voicemail by calling 916-883-3580," said the press release.
Anyone interested in learning more or supporting the Memorial Wall expansion can click here.
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