LITTLE ROCK, AR – Hundreds turned out Saturday afternoon at the state Capitol for a dedication nearly thirty years in the making for fallen firefighters.
The Arkansas Fallen Firefighters’ Memorial consists of a 50 by 70 foot memorial plaza and a bronze statue featuring four firefighters and a child.
Lynn and his wife Irene Wooley traveled from their volunteer fire department in Cleveland County to attend the event.
“I’ve never seen anything like this one,” Lynn Wooley said fighting back tears. “I just don’t know what to say.”
The ceremony included bagpipe players along with the reading the names of each of the 104 firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
The list dates back to 1889 and includes Fae Taylor-Nolen’s late husband Jerrell Taylor, who died battling flames at Little Rock warehouse in March 1977.
“Everyday is a memory but you’re thankful that you had that,” Taylor-Nolen says. “It’s wonderful they’ve done this. I hope everyone will come out and support it.”
Funds for the project were raised through donations to the Arkansas Fallen Firefighters’ Memorial.
