Plans to unveil Broome County’s first Crime Victims Memorial Wall have been postponed, nearly a year after the project broke ground at Roundtop Park in Endicott.
The memorial, first proposed by Eagle Scout candidate Schyler Savage following the death of his mother in 2023, was envisioned as a place of reflection and remembrance for families affected by crime. Construction was initially slated for completion by April 2025, but delays in the stone engraving process have forced organizers to push back the timeline.
According to Haley Roma, director of education and training at the Crime Victims Assistance Center, the county had to order new stone from an international supplier, which has caused an unexpected delay.
“We’re currently waiting for it to arrive and be provided to the engraver,” Roma said in an Oct. 14 statement. “Once the stone is delivered and the engraving process is complete, it will be installed in the wall, weather permitting.”
Roma added that if conditions allow, the memorial could be unveiled as early as this winter, but more realistically, the event will occur in the spring.
The memorial design includes a walkway leading to a heart-shaped raised garden, surrounded by a patio and retaining wall. Granite tiles will bear the engraved names of 173 crime victims who have died since 1979, with space reserved for future additions. Families in the Broome County area can still reach out to inquire about including their loved ones’ names.
“We truly appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we work to bring this meaningful tribute to life,” Roma said.
The $150,000 project is being funded through contributions from Broome County, New York State Senator Lea Webb, community fundraising efforts, and donations tied to Savage’s Eagle Scout project requirements.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Sept. 4, 2024, marking the start of construction on the long-awaited memorial — a first of its kind in Broome County.
