Akron Police Memorial
N 41° 04.767 W 081° 31.107
17T E 456449 N 4547706
The eternal flame is in front of the Harold K Stubbs Justice Center.
Waymark Code: WM4PQM
Location: Ohio, United States
Date Posted: 09/16/2008
Views: 16
"This eternal flame is not Akron's flame," said Chief Michael T. Matulavich at the dedication service of the eternal flame as part of the Akron, Ohio, Police Department's memorial. "It is to honor every law enforcement officer who has lost their life across this country."
The memorial monument and eternal flame of the Akron Police Department, like many other departments' memorials, serve as a constant reminder that commitment to public safety can come at a high price. Since 1963 Akron has held memorial services to remember the 20 officers of the Akron Police Department who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The origin of the Akron police memorial occurred in 1997 when the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 and the Akron police administration had a vision to honor fallen officers and their families with a lasting symbol of appreciation for their sacrifice. The theme of the memorial is that we will never forget those who gave their lives in service to the citizens of Akron.
Because the officers died in service to the community, FOP Lodge 7 and the police administration felt it important to involve the community in making this vision become a reality. Fundraising efforts included the sale of a specially commissioned Road Champs cruiser and generous donations from a broad spectrum of the community. The memorial became a reality on May 13, 1997, when more than 1,000 people witnessed its dedication.
In September 2000 Chief Matulavich encouraged incorporating an eternal flame within the Akron monument. The FOP Lodge 7 embraced this idea and a fund raising campaign began. The entire cost of the project was funded through several corporate donations. By July 2002 the addition of the eternal flame to the memorial was realized and officially lit. More than 2,000 people attended the dedication.
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