Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial Monument receives $100,000 from Delta Dental

At a Jan. 31 ceremony in downtown Lansing that featured Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, Delta Dental of Michigan committed $100,000 to the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial Monument Fund.

“Law enforcement are local heroes who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe and our society just wouldn’t work without them,” said Lt. Gov. Brian Calley. “The Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument will be a great testament to our fallen heroes and I want to thank Delta Dental and other partners for helping us get closer to making this important project a reality.”

The memorial fund was established in 2004 to raise money for the erection of a permanent memorial to honor all of Michigan’s law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

“The importance of this generous contribution cannot be overstated,” said Kathy Cole Brown, Chairperson of the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument Fund Commission. “To have Delta Dental as the leading partner in this effort is the kind of gift that families and friends of Michigan’s fallen law enforcement officers have long prayed for.”

The $100,000 donation makes Delta Dental the single largest contributor to the Fund since it was established in 2004.

The monument fund has a fundraising target of at least $3 million to construct and provide ongoing maintenance for the tribute. With Delta Dental’s commitment, fundraising efforts are now at 78 percent.
“With this donation, it is our hope that other companies and individuals will follow suit and give generously so that this monument can be erected to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for Michigan's citizens,” said Teri Battaglieri, Director of Communications, Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy for Delta Dental of Michigan.

The design for the monument is composed of 21 sentinels—4’ X 8’ glass panels engraved with the names of fallen officers “standing vigil over the memories of those lost.” The panels march from west to east and will be lit from below. It is planned that names will be added at random so that no panels are empty, while allowing for the inclusion of officers newly-discovered from the past.

Those wishing to contribute to the fund can visit www.mleom.org/donate.html.

The Michigan Legislature created the Commission 12 years ago for the purpose of funding, constructing, and maintaining a permanent memorial monument to honor the nearly 600 Michigan law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.  The Commission chose a design for the monument and a team led by the project’s chief architect and the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget has developed construction plans to near completion.