Minn. Firefighters Exceed Memorial Fund Goal

Since 1881, 194 Minnesota firefighters have died in the line of duty, according to the Minnesota Fire Service Foundation.

In July, the Blaine-based nonprofit launched a fundraising initiative to build a memorial on state Capitol grounds to honor those fallen firefighters.

Today, firefighters from across the state will gather at a Chanhassen fire station to say they have exceeded the $600,000 fundraising goal set for the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial. Construction is to begin next spring.

The closest thing to a memorial for the state's fallen firefighters is a bronze sculpture that has stood for more than 20 years near the baggage claim at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

"The sculpture doesn't say anything about who those people were or when they died," said Eden Prairie Fire Chief George Esbensen, the foundation's president. "It's a very nice sculpture that only tells part of the story."

Firefighters have pushed for a larger, more accessible memorial for about a decade, after legislation set aside land on Capitol grounds.

About seven years ago, the foundation failed to rally support and funds for a memorial from the public.

This time around, it took a different approach: It asked each of the state's more than 20,000 firefighters to pitch in $30 apiece. It worked, Esbensen said; firefighters raised more than 80 percent of the total.

"Our strategy was by firefighters, for firefighters," he said.

The cost to build the memorial is pegged at $500,000, with the remaining $100,000 to be placed in a maintenance fund for the memorial, as required by state law for a memorial placed on state Capitol grounds.

With more than half the state's 790 fire departments donating, the foundation's goal is to get every department to contribute something, "so that everybody can say they had a hand in this," Esbensen said.

Leftover money will go toward the foundation's primary mission: to provide scholarships for children of active, retired or fallen firefighters, Esbensen said.

The bronze firefighter sculpture is incorporated into the design of the new memorial, to be built in the southwest corner of the Capitol grounds.

Esbensen said the plan is to dedicate the memorial during National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, set for Oct. 6-7.

Nick Ferraro can be reached at 651-228-2173. Follow him at twitter.com/NickFerraroPP .

HOW TO HELP

Financial contributions to the Minnesota Fallen Firefighter Memorial fundraising effort can be sent to: Minnesota Fire Service Foundation c/o Flagship Bank, 7525 Office Ridge Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3644. Online contributions can be made at mnfireservicefoundation.org . Contributions are tax-deductible.