Dedicated to the Firefighters of Illinois who have given their lives in the line of duty and to those who heroically serve with courage, pride, and honor. Each year a Firefighter medal of honor awards ceremony is held in May and those names are added to the memorial. The Illinois Firefighter Memorial is maintained by a foundation which conducts the annual Firefighters memorial service. Funding is provided by donations for memorial bricks that are then placed in the memorial honoring a donor’s fallen loved one. Funding is also received from the Illinois Secretary of State through a special vehicle license plate that honor firefighters with a portion of the revenue passed on to the foundation.

The Illinois Firefighter Memorial is a bronze work consisting of four life size figures of firefighters in full gear, a child, a ladder and hose.  Each adult figure is approximately 6’ 2” tall if in a standing position and represents the firefighters in full protective clothing in action.  The figures are situated on a cairn 14’ high consisting of renaissance stone.  There are 2,400 red paver bricks which are enclosed by a 2’ wall with capstones engraved with contributors’ names. The Memorial is located on the grounds adjacent to the State Capitol Building in Springfield, Illinois.