Boone H.S. student raising money to build Orlando Police fallen officers memorial

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When Michael Collins came up with his idea to get his Eagle Scout badge, he didn't tell a soul.

Even his parents were clueless about the Boone High School rising junior's plans to commission a $45,000 bronze memorial statue to fallen Orlando police officers.

Janet Collins says, "We saw the email response from [Orlando Police] Chief [John] Mina that said, 'Michael that sounds like a great idea! Get in touch with me.' And we had no idea what he was talking about!'"

The statue will be placed in front of the new Orlando Police headquarters on Orange Blossom Trail.

Collins has already raised more than $1,000, and he hopes to raise a lot more selling snow cones during Orlando's annual Fireworks at the Fountain in Lake Eola Park.

Michael Collins says, "Police officers weren't really getting the thanks that they deserve. Because if you think about it, they're out there putting their lives on the line each day for us."

Collins hopes to have all the money raised by the end of December 2016.

The statue will be cast and ready about six months after that.

 

LINKS:

ORLANDO POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMORIAL EAGLE PROJECT - http://michaelcollins24.wix.com/eagleproject

ORLANDO POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMORIAL EAGLE PROJECT ON FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/OPD.memorial.eagle.project/