WSFM News:

In February of 2009, the Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial Building was officially completed.  The Memorial Building final cost came in at $379,000 with the Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial, Inc. putting down $120,000 toward the project.  The outstanding loan is $260,000, which the WSFM is pushing to pay off within 5 years.  The loan was taken out on the project to offset the rise in construction costs versus attempting to raise all the funds needed for the building before construction would ensue.  It became more cost effective to take out a short-term loan.  We thank Wood Trust Bank for their confidence in the project, especially during these economic times.

The Memorial Building on site was designed and built to closely resemble a turn of the century Fire Station.  The building was constructed with a brick facade and corner enhancements.  Though it resembles a two-story structure, it is a one-story structure with visitors accessing the visitors center via the front door or the rear access doors.  Once the memorial center is open to the public, visitors walking through the front door will be greeted with the Wisconsin State Firefighters Logo emblazened in the floor.  The ceiling of the memorial center takes on the appearance of the old-time tin ceiling.  To the right of the visitors there is a large apparatus room that will be for display purposes only.  Visitors again will be able to view fire and memorial related displays.  To the rear of the center there are restrooms. 

The main room will contain display cases and other memorabalia pertinent to the Memorial; along with a Kiosk that will contain the names of Firefighters from across this great State who are serving or have served their respective communities.*

* The names in the Kiosk will come from all 860 plus departments across the State.  Each department will have the responsibility to send the WSFM their rosters of personnel who have served their department and are serving presently.  We anticipate being able to have the capacity to have a picture, and a short biography of each Firefighter.  So we need each department to have at least one individual collect this information and get it into the WSFM.

The memorial center also houses a maintenance room.  This room contains all the equipment needed to take care of the memorial park.  Very soon we will be adding a wish list to the news from the memorial. 

This summer then we will continue landscaping the new area around the memorial center.  Fill needs to be brought in and sidewalks need to be constructed before the new center can open.  Plans call for at least three new benches being placed around the memorial center, along with some additional old-time street lights and trees and shrubbery.  

Opening tenatively scheduled for late April or early May of 2009.

Wisconsin Income Tax Check Off Donation

Firefighters, EMT’s, First Responders, & Friends of the Fire Service--

You can be a important part of the final payments for the Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial by checking on your Wisconsin State Income Tax return a portion or all of your tax refund to be a part of the year donation to reduce the debt for OUR state memorial.

For more information be sure to check the website:  www.wsfm.org