Mission of the Iowa Firefighters Memorial
The mission of the Iowa Firefighters Memorial
is to forever honor, celebrate and
inspire the spirit, courage and service of
Iowa firefighters-past, present and future.
The memorial park is an inspiration to Iowans
of all ages to continue the tradition in
Iowa of service to each other and to
our communities.
Iowa is the first state to have a
firefighter memorial and visitor center
echoing Iowa's national leadership in
fire service training and safety education.
Iowa has 2O,OOO firefighters
organized in 871 fire departments.
Every year these men and women serve
3 million Iowans in more than 4O,OOO
emergency calls. Every Iowan will be
touched at some point in life through
fire rescue, emergency response,
fire prevention education, or
hazardous materials cleanup.
This memorial park exemplifies Iowa-its pride,
family values, community service,
and commitment to quality.
The site includes the memorial sculpture and wall,
eternal flame and a visitor center with
restroom facilities. Ample parking and
peaceful landscaping complement the tranquil view.
History of the Memorial
In 1988, Mike Reuman,a firefighter from Traer,Iowa
on vacation in another state noticed
a sign pointing to a firefighter's memorial
in a near by state park.
His stop catalyzed the start of a project
in which Iowans can take great pride.
In 1990 the Iowa Firemen's Association
commissioned a bronze memorial sculpture.
Their challenge was to find a home suitable
for such a touching memorial.
After an extensive application process,
research and site visits,
the Iowa Firemen's Association,in 1992,
chose Coralville due to it's
scenic hilltop location, ease of
access for Interstate travelers,
availability 365 days a year,
a visitor center and park like atmosphere,
proximity to hotels and restaurants
and commitment of Coralville/Iowa City leaders
to create and perpetually care for
the site. The memorial park was dedicated
April 10, 1994 at a ceremony attended
by 2,500 firefighters and fellow Iowans.