Memorial Wall

The History

Dedicated September 11, 2005

In October of 2001, some members of The Washtenaw 100 gathered to discuss the topic of the number of duty deaths at the World Trade Center on 9/11. This led us to talking about the total number of duty deaths in Washtenaw County. However, no one seemed to know the numbers or the names of those who gave their lives to protect the lives of others in the county, so the journey began.

In 2002 a complete list of Washtenaw County police officers and firefighters who had lost their lives in the line of duty was secured. At that time the board discussed how to share the information on that list. After much discussion and the study of a number of ideas, the committee recommended building a Memorial Wall so the list of names could be publicly displayed.

The search for an acceptable site began in 2003 and in the spring of 2005, Adams Outdoor Advertising approached the committee with one of their properties at the corner of Michigan Ave. and Ballard St. in Ypsilanti. Later that year the Washtenaw 100 Memorial Wall became a reality at that location.