Sachse Fire Chief Marty Wade and Police Chief Bryan Sylvester pause to view the new monument outside the city’s Public Safety Building honoring first responders.
Under clear Monday skies, first responders, city employees and residents gathered Nov. 17 outside Sachse’s Public Safety Building to witness the dedication of a new monument honoring the men and women who serve the community in police, fire and emergency communications roles.
The monument — funded through a donation from an anonymous local benefactor — now stands as a permanent tribute to Sachse’s public safety personnel.
Police Chief Bryan Sylvester opened the ceremony by thanking both the first responders and the citizens who support them.
“I want to welcome all of you to this very special occasion as we dedicate a monument to the first responders, both those that chose this as a career and those that choose to give of their time and talents to support us by volunteering,” he said. “One thing that makes our community great is community involvement within public safety. The mayor says it all the time — we can’t do it without you.”
Sylvester added that the monument reflects a benefactor’s desire to honor those who “truly make a difference” through their service to the city.
Mayor Jeff Bickerstaff echoed those sentiments, calling the dedication “a very momentous occasion” for the community.
“We don’t see [first responders] a lot, and the reason we don’t see them is because they’re out there doing their job every single day, putting their life on the line to keep us safe,” Bickerstaff said. “This monument is a testament to the city. It’s the fact that we can come out here on a Monday afternoon and celebrate our men and women that help keep us safe every day.”
He also noted the work of 911 dispatchers, whom he described as “truly the unsung heroes… on the front lines, protecting us, keeping us calm and keeping us safe.”
Bickerstaff thanked the anonymous donor for making the project possible, adding that the monument will serve as a lasting reminder to “say thank you to our police officers, thank you fire department, thank you our 911 dispatchers.”
Fire Chief Marty Wade said the dedication highlights the shared commitment between the city’s public safety teams and the community they serve.
“This is a very special time, because it shows how the community has a shared vision of what we can give them to protect them and serve them the best we can,” Wade said. “When a citizen group steps up and does something like this, it just shows that shared commitment.”
Wade thanked the volunteers, first responders and city staff who contribute daily to public safety.
Following the remarks, longtime community member Jackie Eichelberger assisted in unveiling the monument before the crowd. The inscription reads, “Dedicated to Sachse Police Department, Sachse Fire and Rescue Department, Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS), Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Thank you for protecting our community and keeping us safe. You are our everyday heroes.”
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