TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday in the Florida Capitol courtyard for the state's new Fallen Firefighter Memorial.
"The memorial will serve as a daily reminder of our support for our fellow firefighters and emergency personnel, while demonstrating its true legacy, that the work that serves on these grounds is only possible because of the selfless lives they've chosen," said Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, who is also the state's fire marshal, during the ceremony.
A key feature of the memorial will be the names of all the firefighters in the state who have died in the line of duty, including six from 2014.
The ceremony featured Gov. Rick Scott, Cabinet members and a number of family members of fallen emergency personnel.
The State Fire Marshal's office has partnered with various firefighting agencies across the state to help fund the memorial, which was approved through a resolution by Scott and the Cabinet last year.