After 20 years of trying, ground was broke Saturday afternoon on the west lawn of the state Capitol for the Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial.
The Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission approved the memorial Feb. 12.
Firefighters, families of current and fallen firefighters, elected officials, residents and umbrellas packed the lawn on the soggy afternoon to help celebrate the culmination of over two decades of work.
Chairman of the Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial Johnny Reep said the group hoped to be done with the memorial by fall, in time for a dedication service scheduled for Oct. 26.
The memorial, planned to be 50-foot-by-70-foot, will include a fountain, statue, a memorial wall and an amphitheater. The statue, a bronze depiction of four firefighters, is said to have cost around $750,000
THV 11 meteorologist Tom Brannon served as master of ceremonies.
Read more in Sunday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.