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Politics & Government

Wayne County to Erect Memorial for Fallen First Responders

Seven Dearborn officers and firefighters who lost their lives while serving will have their names on the wall.

A memorial to be erected this year will honor fallen first responders from fire and police departments across Wayne County.

An unveiling was held Tuesday at Warren Valley Banquet Center in Dearborn Heights, where Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano joined mayors, as well as fire and police personnel, for the announcement.

“This memorial will stand as a beautiful tribute to honor and remember those brave men and women, whom, while on-duty for a Wayne County Community, selflessly made the ultimate sacrifice to protect and serve us all,” Ficano said.

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"We hope we never have to add another name after today," he added.

Construction is slated to run May 1 through September for the memorial, which will sit at the corner of Hines Drive and Haggerty Road in Plymouth Township. It will include monuments, seat walls, concrete walkways, a paver plaza, site furnishings, planting as well parking and lighting. 

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"We wanted it to be peaceful, serene—and at the same time, because we're doing it in Hines Park—it couldn't flood," Ficano said.

The monument will include the names of every fallen first responder, which includes five police officers and two firefighters from Dearborn:

Police Department

  • Dale Bernock, 2005
  • Norbert M. Szczygiel, 1977
  • Louis A. Hinkel, 1974
  • Andrew H. Cain, 1939
  • Cecil Spencer (Fordson Officer), 1928

Fire Department

  • Edward Mosko, 1983
  • Charles Srull, 1929

In addition to the memorial project, Wayne County Parks will be hosting its initial First Responders Memorial Half Marathon and 5K run on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013.

The run will take place on the western end of Hines Park and will end at the new memorial. Wayne County Parks is partnering with Running Fit in producing the event. Proceeds from the races will go toward the maintenance of the First Responders Memorial.

The creation of the Wayne County First Responders Memorial is being funded through the county parks millage.

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