A groundbreaking ceremony for the “Wall of the Fallen” at the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum on South Broad Street will be held on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m.
Mayor Ron Littlefield and City Councilman Manuel Rico will attend to dedicate the property in front of the Museum as the memorial’s home.
It’s not common knowledge, but operating a tow truck can be a deadly job. Just last week Jerry Dale Stewart, 54, of Chattanooga, was killed on I-75 near Cartersville while attempting to load a disabled car onto his tow truck. He operated K&S Towing Service in Chattanooga. He was a Vietnam veteran.
In honor of people like Mr. Stewart, the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum is building the industry’s only memorial to operators who have died while performing their job. Designed by local artist Cessna Decosimo, the “Wall of the Fallen” memorial will contain the names of operators from around the world who gave their lives while serving the motoring public. Financing for the memorial was donated by Miller Family Foundation based in Atlanta.
“Towing and recovery is one of those services you hope you’ll never need, but when your car breaks down and you need help, there is no one more significant than the operator of the tow truck,” said Mayor Littlefield. “I find it very sad that tow truck operators working to help stranded motorists are dying on roadways. It is an honorable mission to build this memorial to these worthy people,” he said.
“Ninety years ago, in 1916, a local Chattanooga resident, Ernest Holmes, built the first piece of towing and recovery equipment,” says Museum president George Connolly. “Chattanooga has always been home to our industry, home to our industry’s only international museum and is therefore the perfect location for us to honor our fallen.”
The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum is located at 3315 Broad St. at the base of Lookout Mountain.
The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, call the museum at (423) 267-3132.