Memorial plan unveiled for city's fallen heroes

AND THE WINNING design for a new memorial for fallen firefighters and police officers goes to . . .

Roman Torres, Adam Montalbano and Eric Oskey of Moto Designshop in Old City!

Their design, unveiled Thursday, is for a 110-by-80-foot commemorative site to be located near Franklin Square's main entrance, at 6th and Race streets.

Visitors will walk, as if in a procession, toward a white marble cubelike structure - representing a firefighter's or police officer's badge - with a black stone band wrapped around the middle. Along the way, one will see black granite slabs with quotes by firefighters and cops. Vertical stainless-steel markers will carry the names of the fallen.

The new design will replace the Living Flame Memorial, which is in "decrepit" condition, said Tim McShea, vice president of Local 22, the firefighters' union.

Torres said it was really important to capture the gravity of the loss of a firefighter or police officer. The design includes evergreen trees, which will act as an "honor guard, at attention at all times," Oskey said.

Bob Bedard, coordinator of the Fallen Heroes Memorial Fund, said money needs to be raised to make the memorial a reality. Donations can be made at fallenheroesmemorialfund.org.

A fundraiser will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 16th and 18th streets, hosted by Tir Na Nog and Con Murphy's bars.

- Julie Shaw