Rockland County Legislators have unanimously approved funding and a construction contract for the long-awaited Rockland County Firefighters’ Memorial, allowing the project to officially move forward.
The new memorial will be built on the front lawn of the County Courthouse, an area often used for community gatherings and ceremonies. It will honor both volunteer and paid firefighters who have died in the line of duty, including more than 50 heroes since 1906 from both Rockland County and local FDNY members.
“It’s really past time for us to have a county-level memorial,” said Rockland County Legislature Public Safety Committee Chairman Paul Cleary. “Having a central place where all can be recognized and honored for their sacrifice is the right thing to do.”
Legislators approved awarding the construction contract to ADP Group Inc. of Paterson, NJ, at a cost not to exceed $976,000, after the company was identified as the lowest responsible bidder. The overall project is estimated at $1.9 million and will also include the relocation and renovation of two military memorials and the refurbishment of the existing Rockland County Police Memorial.
The memorial effort, years in the making, has been spearheaded by a special committee of the Rockland County Volunteer Firefighters’ Association, chaired by Sheriff Louis Falco III, RCVFA President Evan Humphrey, and Firefighter Jason DiSalvo.
An original life-size sculpture commissioned from the Randolph Rose Collection of Yonkers will anchor the new memorial. Titled “Honor the Brave,” the $185,000 sculpture will feature three firefighters, symbolizing all firefighters past, present, and future. The company is known for creating “Firefighter Brothers,” the statue in West Nyack dedicated to FDNY and West Nyack Fire Department brothers Thomas and Daniel Foley, both victims of the Sept. 11 attacks and their aftermath.
The project was first approved in 2023, when the Legislature amended the county’s Capital Budget to add the memorial. It also complements previous efforts by Legislator Cleary, who sponsored a county law providing up to $1 million in financial support to families of fallen firefighters to help them avoid financial hardship after losing a loved one.
Construction of the Rockland County Firefighters’ Memorial is expected to begin soon, marking a major step in honoring the county’s bravest.