GORHAM, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — The Gorham fire and police departments have a new memorial honoring firefighters who gave their lives serving their community.
The memorial was dedicated during a ceremony at the town's public safety complex on Sunday. It features three stone markers etched with a fireman's prayer and names of the firefighters who died. At its center is a life-size statue of a firefighter made of granite.
It took years for the fire department to raise $60,000 for the memorial — all from donations.
Gorham's fire chief said this project was personal for him because one of the firefighters who died, Cpt. Michael Kucsma was like a son to him.
“Mike was like my son, he was one of my first live-in students when we started the college live-in program,” said Chief Robert Lefebvre. “He came to us when he was in college and worked his way through the ranks here in Gorham, was a full-time firefighter in Portland and at the time of his passing he was one of my deputy chiefs.”
Gorham’s police and fire departments said they plan to construct a police memorial near the fire memorial next year.