The six-acre site of the future memorial is open space at the Jefferson County Corporate Center and was donated to the Air Medical Memorial by Alan Fishman of Land Securities Investors. (Photo courtesy of Air Medical Memorial)

Last week the Air Medical Memorial board of directors announced that after receiving a land donation in southern Jefferson County, Denver will serve as the host city for group’s memorial and annual induction ceremony.

The six-acre site, donated by Alan Fishman of Land Securities Investors, is located near C-470 and South Kipling Street and will consist of a granite memorial wall inscribed with the names of honorees, a bronze sculpture by artist Mark Lundeen, as well as landscaping and trails. Currently, the land is open space at the Jefferson County Corporate Center.

“We were looking for a site that was thoughtful, serene and easily accessible. We were fortunate to find a site that met all of our requirements in terms of location, scenic views and more,” said Steven Sweeney, Air Medical Memorial founder and board chair. “We can now build something very special, a lasting tribute to these fallen heroes.”

The group is working with Nuszer Kopatz/Stanley of Denver on the design and construction of the $600,000 Air Memorial and Park, expected to open in 2012.

Denver was chosen as the host city by the group because of its central location and because the group was able to secure a site suitable for the national memorial.

The group has received financial support from individuals and organizations and is seeking large gift corporate donations, grants and sponsors. The Air Medical Memorial recently launched several fundraising campaigns, including t-shirt sales and a “10 in 10” initiative in which supporters donate 10 cents per honoree, or $32, in 2010.

The memorial was founded in January 2009 following a year of great loss for the air medical and EMS industries. “Twenty-four air medical crew members lost their lives in 2008, and we decided that a national memorial was long overdue,” said Mary Ann Melville, honoree officer. “These people lost their lives in the name of saving others and now it’s time we recognize their sacrifice.”

The Air Medical Memorial is a national memorial honoring more than 320 flight crewmembers lost in the line of duty since the inception of emergency medical flight operations in the late 1960s. The group recognizes crewmembers from both helicopter and fixed-wing (airplane) EMS operations.