Culver fire dept. dedicates firemens’ Honor Wall
| |
Pastor AnnMarie Kneebone, center, blesses the Culver firemen’s Honor Wall, dedicated July 27
just east of the fire station on Lake Shore Drive. Fire Dept. and VFW members surround the monument |
|
August 10, 2013
By Diona Eskew
Pastor AnnMarie Kneebone, center, blesses the Culver firemen’s Honor Wall, dedicated July 27 just east of
the fire station on Lake Shore Drive. Fire Dept. and VFW members surround the monument.
The Culver Union Township Fire Department (CUTFD) celebrated its 110th anniversary July 27 with an Honor
Wall dedication ceremony at the recently-installed firemen’s memorial at department’s property at the corner
of Lake Shore Drive and State Street. Culver VFW Post 6919 provided a flag dedication to start the event off,
followed by a blessing by Pastor AnnMarie Kneebone of Grace United Church of Christ in Culver.
The Honor Wall will be used as a memorial for fallen firefighters, according to fire chief Terry Wakefield,
as well as firemen with at least three years of service |
“It’s more than a memorial wall,” he said. “It’s an Honor Wall, a place to come and honor those who have dedicated
themselves to save others.”
Titus Inc., of Plymouth, created the plaque from a material called corian, a man-made substance commonly
used for counter tops. Counter Top Pros provided the two different colored slats and Titus went to work. Josh Kronewitter
designed the Maltese cross by using hand drawings and a computer aided design (CAD) program. Construction on the piece
began in January. Once the two pieces were cut out they were put together just like puzzle pieces and held together by
epoxy. The final step was sanding it out to a smooth finish |
|
“It all started with Dave Cooper, secretary and treasurer for the CUTFD, got in touch with Tom Reed, president and CEO
of Titus,” said Rich Cosby, Titus sales representative. “Cooper wanted to do something special and we were glad to help.”
The CUTFD collected all the funds to make this project possible.
|
The large bell providing the centerpiece for the memorial was transitioned some months ago from the fire station’s raised
garden (now removed) across the street to the west. The bell itself hung for some six decades in the belfry of the
Maxinkuckee Methodist Church on 18B Road near the east shore
of Lake Maxinkuckee, and was given a home with the fire department in the 1960s. |
“The guys (in the department) raised the money (for the Honor Wall) themselves; no tax dollars were used to make this happen,” said
Wakefield. “We aren’t done with the Honor Wall yet. We are going to add lights and shrubbery to the area too.”
Following the dedication ceremony was the annual Fireman’s Festival which, as in the past, featured kids’ games including a bounce
house and dunk tank