Indiana Law Enforcement and Firefighters Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Indiana Law Enforcement and Firefighters Memorial |
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| Indiana Law Enforcement and Fire Fighters Memorial |
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| Year | 2001 |
| Type | Limestone |
| Location | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 39°46′8.70″N 86°9′49.88″W / 39.7690833°N 86.1638556°W | |
| Owner | State of Indiana |
The Indiana Law Enforcement and Firefighters Memorial is a special place in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. It honors police officers and firefighters from Indiana who died while bravely doing their job. Many different experts, like architects and engineers, worked together to design and build this memorial.
You can find the memorial next to the Indiana Government Center North. It's on the northwest corner of Bicentennial Plaza and Senate Avenue. The memorial was officially opened on June 6, 2001. This was just three days before the World Police and Fire Games started in Indianapolis that year.
Contents
What the Memorial Looks Like
The memorial is in a peaceful park-like area. There are many trees and benches where people can sit and reflect. A sign helps guide visitors to the memorial's pathway.
Main Features
In the middle of the memorial, there's a beautiful fountain. It's shaped like the Indiana state flag. This fountain is a central part of the design.
Tall stone pillars, called pylons, stand proudly. These pylons hold up big bronze medals. Each of these medals weighs about 500 pounds!
Honoring Police Officers
On the right side of the memorial, you'll find the area dedicated to police officers. These are officers who died while on duty. A bronze medal sits on top of the Indiana Limestone pylon here. This medal shows a police officer standing next to Saint Michael. Saint Michael is known as the patron saint of police.
Inside the two pylons, there are special laminated books. Visitors can use these books to search for names of the people honored on the monument. The books also give directions to help you find a specific name.
Behind this pylon, there are 33 gray granite panels. These panels are arranged in eleven groups of three. The names of Indiana police officers who died on duty are carved into this granite.
Honoring Firefighters
On the left side of the memorial, there's an area for firefighters. This section honors those who died while serving their communities. A bronze medal showing a firefighter shield is on top of the pylon here.
Just like the police section, there are 33 gray granite panels behind this pylon. These panels are also in eleven groups of three. The names of Indiana firefighters who died on duty are carved into these granite panels.
The sections for police officers and firefighters look very similar. They mirror each other and form a large semicircle.
Materials Used
The memorial is made from several strong materials. These include gray granite, Indiana Limestone, and bronze. The most noticeable words on the memorial are the names of the people who died. There are also words of dedication carved into the pylons. You won't find any artist names or company marks easily visible on the memorial itself.
The memorial was built carefully, just 16 inches above a pedestrian tunnel. Because of this, extra steps were taken during construction. This made sure the memorial was stable and had good drainage.
How the Memorial Was Built
The planning, design, and building of the Indiana Law Enforcement and Fire Fighters Memorial started in August 2000. This project was overseen by the State of Indiana and the Indiana Firefighters Memorial Committee. The work was finished and the memorial was revealed on June 6, 2001.
The total cost to build this important memorial was about $1 million.
In 2002, the Glenroy Construction company received a special award. It was called the BKD Governor's Award. They earned this award for doing excellent work on the memorial. This award is given to projects that have a positive impact on the community.
Who Designed It?
The Indiana Law Enforcement and Fire Fighters Memorial was a team effort. Many different people and companies worked together.
Some of the key contributors were:
- Glenroy Construction Company, an Indiana-based company.
- Ken Boyce from Ratio Architects.
- Patrick Brunner, an architect.
- Bonnie Sheridan Coghlan, also an architect.
- Becker Landscape, a company based in Indianapolis.
