Memorial dedicated to first responders to be unveiled Friday

September 10, 2020 | 12:08 am

Updated September 10, 2020 | 11:56 am

Graphic by Owensboro Times

A new monument dedicated to police officers, sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, and EMS who’ve died in the line of duty will be unveiled at noon Friday on the Daviess County Courthouse lawn.

The culmination of years of hard work and a dedicated effort to bring the Daviess County First Responder Memorial to fruition, the monument will be the first of its kind in Daviess County. 

Roughly $15,000 was raised to cover the expenses of the monument, according to Owensboro Police Department Sergeant Adam Johnston. That money was raised through the Emergency Services Gala over five years’ time — an event Johnston and a committee of first responders put together six years ago. 

“There’s nothing in this county to honor those who’ve given the ultimate sacrifice,” Johnston said. “We tried to bring the [Emergency Services Gala] back with a purpose after it died off years earlier for various reasons. Everything from that event went into a savings account for this monument.” 

The first year of the Emergency Services Gala brought out 150 guests. That number grew to 600 guests within six years and normally sells out within days, Johnston said. After last year’s gala, Johnston and his committee had finally raised enough money to create the monument, which was designed by the committee as well. 

The monument is made of stone and will stand 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide. The front will be engraved with the patches from local first responders across the City and County, and the back will contain a couple of quotes that will remain a surprise until Friday’s unveiling ceremony. 

“This is specific to Owensboro and Daviess County first responders,” Johnston said. 

The Courthouse lawn will provide the monument a central location with good visibility, he said, adding that Daviess County Fiscal Court and Judge-Executive Al Mattingly fully supported erecting the monument on the property. 

The ceremony event will feature a couple of guest speakers and music will be played before the unveiling, Johnston said. 

“We couldn’t have done this without the support of the community and the first responders who supported it,” he said.

September 10, 2020 | 12:08 am

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