Boy Scout Logan Goodbred recently unveiled plans for a First Responder Memorial to be built at the Oswego Public Safety campus.
“I really wanted to do something to express how much we care about our first responders. I don’t think our police officers, firefighters and medical workers get as much credit as they should,” said Goodbred, 17.
Goodbred began developing plans for a First Responder Memorial after the dedication ceremony of the new Oswego Police Department headquarters in October 2018. The new police station at 3355 Woolley Road completed the village’s Public Safety Campus, with Oswego Fire Protection District Station 1 immediately west of the new police facility.
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The planned memorial will be built on a grassy area between the two facilities.
A 400-square-foot patio area with personalized engraved bricks and two bronze sculptures of a customized firefighter’s helmet and police officer cap will be focal points to honor local first responders. There will be flag poles and a perennial garden for the memorial as well.
Goodbred is in the process of earning Eagle Scout status, the highest honor in the Boy Scouts.
He said he didn’t anticipate the timeliness of his project, as the coronavirus pandemic has put a spotlight on the nation’s medical workers and others on the front lines of caring for others.
“While a lot of people are stuck inside to avoid the risk of being exposed to the virus, first responders can’t stop doing their jobs. These are people who are constantly in danger and put others before themselves,” said Goodbred, who will begin his senior year at Oswego High School in the fall.
Goodbred has personal knowledge of what first responders do. His mother is a nurse and his father is a firefighter/paramedic.
“It’s timely how the project has come to a head right about now,” he said.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing restrictions, Goodbred and others held a private groundbreaking event for the memorial, which can be viewed at facebook.com/Oswegofirstrespondermemorial. There’s also information there on how to purchase a $30 personalized engraved brick for the project.
Goodbred approached officials from the Oswego Fire Protection District and Oswego Police Department as well as the village of Oswego to get authorization for the project and fundraising support, as well as in-kind contributions of goods and services.
He’s putting together a team of Scouts to help build the memorial.
“It’s been a lot of hard work but I have learned a lot. If you want to see change, it’s up to us to step up in order to make it happen,” Goodbred said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.