Mayor Anthony Calderone told the village council that the quest to raise $7,000 for a memorial to fallen police and fire personnel from Forest Park reached its goal, thanks to lots of little donations. “Some gave $5, some gave $10,” he said, noting that a “certain family affiliated with a candy company in Forest Park” donated $1,000 to the project.

Shovels will break ground for the memorial next fall. The park is located at Circle Avenue and Randolph Street, across from Grant-White School, at the former location of the first village hall.

The memorial will have the names of Forest Park first responders killed in the line of duty: Police Officer Edward Pflaume, Police Lieutenant Herman W. Ziebell, Officer Michael Caufield and Fire Captain Frank Schnurstein.