Reprinted with permission of the Journal-News

Editorial - Sculpture pays tribute to county firefighters

Firefighters are among the many unsung public-service heroes in the community, but now they're about to receive a fitting tribute in Butler County.

A life-size bronze statute will be installed in the coming weeks in downtown Hamilton near Monument Cabin along the Great Miami River. The statue will honor Butler County firefighters and emergency medical service personnel who have died in the line of duty.

The statue, created by artist George Danhires of Kent, Ohio, depicts a firefighter cradling a small child. Lt. Kelly Mayer of the West Chester Township Fire Department served as the model for the sculpture, which has been in development for two years.

Schumacher-Dugan Construction of West Chester Township will build a polished foundation and install the sculpture.

When completed, the memorial will include a plaque that lists the 15 Butler County firefighters and EMTs who have died in the line of duty through the years. The first three names on the plaque -- John M. Hunker, William M. Love and George P. Fritz -- died in battling the Butler County Courthouse fire of March 1912.

The $37,000 firefighters memorial, which is to be dedicated at 1:30 p.m. on March 25, is being financed by public and private donations, including $13,300 from Butler County commissioners.

But organizers still need to raise about $3,000 for the project, and the public can send donations to the Butler County Fire Chiefs Association, 101 E. High St., Oxford 45056.

Firefighters and EMTs put their lives on the line almost every day, and many people take their hard work and sacrifice for granted. But the firefighters memorial is a good way for the community to recognize the brave people who have died in the line of duty as well as to say thanks to all the past and present firefighters and EMTs in the county.