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Mount Carmel St. Ann's has donated $10,000 to the Westerville Fire Fighters' Memorial (WFFM), which will be built beside Fire Station 111 at 400 W. Main St.

"We are very grateful for this donation from Mount Carmel St. Ann's," said Tom Ullom, president and founder of the WFFM. "Mount Carmel St. Ann's has made a significant difference in health care and the lives of those in the Westerville and northeast area. As one of many fire fighter-medics, we work every day with the emergency room staff and see the positive outcomes of the high level of care they provide."

Janet Meeks, president and chief operating officer of Mount Carmel St. Ann's, said the donation is a good way to celebrate both the history of Westerville and the hospital, which will mark its 100th anniversary in 2008.

"This is a great way for us to give back to our home, having gained so much from the people of Westerville," Meeks said. "It's also a chance to celebrate our history and we look forward to an even brighter future as the heart and soul of health care in this great community."

The memorial, called "The Crossing," is a bronze sculpture designed by Cincinnati artists Steve Geddes and Bob Moore. It will cost $150,000. Ullom said approximately $41,000 has been pledged for the monument so far.

The memorial will serve as tribute to David Theisen, a Westerville firefighter who was killed on Feb. 5, 1998, as a result of a house fire in Crooksville, where he was a volunteer.

"The Crossing" will include a bronze statue, a memorial wall, brick walk ways and a World Trade Center memorial.

"Our goal is to complete the memorial for the Westerville Fire Division's 150th anniversary celebration, which will be in 2010," Ullom said.

According to the WFFM's Web site, the fund-raising campaign for the memorial was originally scheduled to begin in the last weeks of September 2001, but was postponed after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. But when many designs were being considered for other 9/11-related memorials, organizers decided to start accepting donations again.

Meeks said Mount Carmel St. Ann's has developed a strong relationship with the Westerville Division of Fire over the years.

"Every day, our staff works closely with our local fire departments -- especially those that serve in our Westerville home," Meeks said. "Our emergency department associates have formed solid relationships with these dedicated men and women."

Ullom said the WFFM is still seeking monetary and in-kind donations from businesses and construction trades in order to complete the site work for the memorial.

More information about the WFFM is available online at www.wffmemorial.org or by calling 614-891-0728.