The Fallen Officer Memorial in Battle Creek, Michigan is a tribute to the history of police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The project to design and create the memorial followed the aftermath of the loss of one of Battle Creek's finest officers: Laverne Brann, a detective whom was killed by gunfire in 2005 while making a visit to a suspect's house during an investigation.
Having personally met Mr. Brann on one occasion at a public ceremony and having had the honor to be present when h
e received numerous awards for valor in the line of duty, I can say only that he was a man of few words, and he had an air of kindness about him. Having had the opportunity to shake his hand and converse with him briefly, I will always remember him as a hero of the Battle Creek community whenever I wander by the Fallen Officer Memorial.
The Fallen Officer Memorial in Battle Creek, Michigan was designed and funded through donations from community organizations and police officers from all over the country. It consists of a brick wall with plaques dedicated to each of the six Battle Creek officers who died in the line of duty. There is a brick walkway of dedications also, and garden opposite a beautiful bronze statue.
The statue depicts an officer holding the hand of a little girl, who appears lost, but at the same time she conveys a look of trust to the policeman whom she in company with. It represents the symbol of the police officer looking out for the safety of others in the community.
The Fallen Officer Memorial in Battle Creek, Michigan was dedicated on June 10, 2008 before a crowd of police officers, community leaders, media and supporters from all over the State of Michigan. Over $350,000 was raised from approximately 500 contributors in the community to construct the memorial. While the project was ongoing, I help raise $1500 from friends, and members of my church. I also helped the Board of Realtors raise over $2000 to donate to the project as well. Some people asked me once why I was spending so much time on fundraisng for this project when it was ongoing. The only response I could give was 'How could I not?'
Police officers contribute to much to my profession as a Realtor, by making the communities safe. How could I not get involved to honor them?
The Fallen Officer Memorial in Battle Creek is located downtown between the Battle Creek Police Department headquarters, and City Hall. It is a shaded area, complete with benches and a flower garden of Michigan wild flowers. It represents a reminder of those who dedicate their lives on a daily basis to protecting our community, and it is a respectful tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
When touring through Cereal City, be sure to visit the Fallen Officer Memorial. It is a beautiful dedication to some true, and often forgotten, heroes of our society.
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