Donations Sought For Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake Police Memorial

The Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake Police Memorial started as a concept 20 years ago that has made it past the drawing-board stage – but needs the community’s financial support to become reality.

Last January, members of the Fraternal Order of Police Cuyahoga Falls Lodge 49 and FOP Associate Lodge 31 created the “Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake Police Memorial and Honor Guard Foundation” to bring the long-discussed idea to life.

The lodge, established in 1946, consists of active and retired officers from the , Silver Lake and Canal Fulton police departments, as well as Summit County Metro Parks rangers. Its associate lodge is composed of business owners and other police supporters.

Foundation members brainstormed ideas for the permanent memorial and sketched them out on paper, said Cuyahoga Falls police officer Steve Amos, co-chair of the foundation. That paper was turned over to Cuyahoga Falls architect David Pelligra, who donated consulting time to the project.

The design unveiling in May was part of the Police Officers Memorial Service – an event held each year during National Police Week – at the . It was a fitting location for the unveiling, as the memorial will be built on what is now a grassy area between that structure and the city’s Municipal Building.

The 25-foot circular memorial’s focal point will be a “granite center stone” seated atop the mid-point of a star-shaped design. The center stone will display the FOP emblem and the names of officers killed in the line of duty.

The memorial will be encircled by a low brick wall featuring brick pillars at each of the star points. Each pillar will hold a plaque for memorial designations other than killed in the line of duty, such as those killed while serving in the military or deceased retired officers.

“It will fit with the architecture of the Natatorium as if it was always there,” Amos said. “Every year we have roll call of officers who’ve passed away. The concept is to create a living memorial where their families and area residents can go to reflect.”

Although the design was unveiled in May, the official fundraising campaign via presentations to community groups and organizations didn’t start until two months ago. And letters seeking donations were just mailed out several weeks ago.

“When we started raising funds, gave the first donation,” said Amos, who recently did a presentation about the memorial for Cuyahoga Falls City Council members. Earlier this week, council approved for the project.

Amos said at first he was concerned that the goal of raising $60,000 to build the memorial and establish an endowment to maintain it was too lofty. However, donors have already contributed more than $17,000.

Based on the fundraising campaign’s success, a groundbreaking ceremony could held as early as National Police Week 2012, which begins May 12. Amos said a dedication ceremony could be held in August as part of the city’s bicentennial celebration activities.

Those who wish to donate time or a tax-deductible monetary gift to the memorial project are asked to send an email to policememorial@ohiofop49.org or write to: Cuyahoga Falls & Silver Lake Police Memorial, c/o FOP #49, 436 Graham Road, Cuyahoga Falls OH 44221.