Public Safety Memorial CommissionEstablished through Executive Order 52 (2007), the Governor’s Public Safety Memorial Commission was established to make recommendations on an appropriate memorial for the Commonwealth to commemorate the courage and sacrifice of Virginia’s Public Safety personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Every day, brave men and women put on their uniforms and dedicate their lives to the protection of life and property throughout the Commonwealth. Unfortunately, every year we mourn the loss of members of our public safety community. Virginia is one of the leading states with law enforcement fatalities. According to the records of the National Law Officers Memorial Fund, Virginia ranks 11th out of the 50 states for fallen officers (September 2008) with 425 deaths in the line-of-duty since 1827. On average, one law enforcement officer is killed somewhere in America every 53 hours. Since January 2006, Virginia has lost 14 law enforcement officers and one firefighter serving to protect the citizens of Virginia. A Public Safety Memorial would be a meaningful and fitting honor to Virginia’s fallen heroes giving the friends and family of the men and women who have died in the line of duty a place to remember them, and to give Virginians a memorial to honor and respect those who have made the ultimate sacrifice serving our society. Virginia is one of 10 states that lacks a state-level memorial to properly honor those fallen public safety personnel. To address that need, Governor Timothy M. Kaine established the Public Safety Memorial Commission. Chaired by the Secretary of Public Safety, this Commission was tasked with making recommendations on an appropriate memorial for the Commonwealth to commemorate the courage and sacrifice of Virginia’s public safety personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The Public Safety Memorial Commission has a diverse membership including state legislators, members of the Governor’s Cabinet, representatives from state agencies and members of the public safety community. To date, the Commission has held one meeting in September 2007 and reached consensus on the memorial’s purpose and objectives. During the 2008 General Assembly Session, the legislature provided $45,000 for planning purposes for this Memorial. The proposed sight for the Public Safety Memorial is the raised planter located in the Darden Garden area, in the pedestrian mall outside of the General Assembly Building, between 9th and 10th Streets. Request for ProposalsView an update on the Public Safety Memorial Commission Selection Process (PDF, 13.58Mb) The Public Safety Memorial Commission was charged by Governor Timothy Kaine, via Executive Order 52, to investigate and establish an appropriate memorial for the Commonwealth to commemorate the courage and sacrifice of Virginia’s Public Safety personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The Commission seeks to receive design proposals for the Public Safety Memorial to be located in the Darden Garden area outside of the General Assembly in Richmond, Virginia. The total budget for this exterior art work is $2,000,000, which includes all expenses and fees of the artist(s), as well as on site delivery, site preparation and installation. All types of proposals are encouraged including figurative, non-figurative and those that may incorporate water, landscape elements, etc. The deadline for submission of applications is February 1, 2009. All applications must be postmarked, emailed or hand-delivered to the Secretary of Public Safety’s Office by this date. Please send electronic submissions to stephen.parker@governor.virginia.gov and mail or deliver paper proposal materials to:
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Erin C. Bryant, Assistant Secretary of Public Safety, at (804) 786 - 5351.
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