FRACKVILLE, PA—In spite of weather-related setbacks, the renovation of a memorial to fallen heroes is nearing completion.
A much-needed facelift for the Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Training Academy is taking a little longer. Frank Zangari Jr., Girardville fire chief and president of the Schuylkill County Fire Chiefs Association, said Thursday that the project began last year with the expectation it would be completed in 2019, however rainy conditions hampered the schedule. Work is expected to be finished early next year with a rededication planned for the spring.
Moreover, beside the rain, volunteers are doing the work as time permits.
“This is a time-consuming and expensive process,” Zangari said. “The concrete has to be cleaned and the paint being used is expensive.”
Zangari said each of the memorial stones and donation bricks have been removed from the front of the memorial, located at the entrance to the fire school, cleaned thoroughly and are now in the process of being relettered.
Along with the memorial stones and bricks being refurbished, the main monument will be cleaned and relettered and the entire front leveled and landscaped before the stones are reset, Zangari said.
There are plans to make parking spaces available directly in front of the monument and install a walkway and ramp to the main area for wheelchairs or people with disabilities.
Three new flag poles are being installed directly behind the main memorial stone.
The project is being strictly funded through donations and the work is being done at no cost.
“We have a lot of people and businesses that are pitching in to make this happen,” he said.
The objective of the project, Zangari said, is to have the memorial stand out and be the first thing people see when entering the fire school grounds.
“We want this to be a fitting tribute to our firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.
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