LITTLE ROCK — The Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission will meet Feb. 12 to discuss whether to construct a memorial to fallen firefighters that has been in the works for more than 20 years.

Secretary of State Mark Martin called for the meeting Friday, said Alex Reed, his spokesman. The commission chooses when and where new monuments are placed at the Capitol in Little Rock. It last met in 2008.

Four positions on the commission had been vacant for about four years and went unnoticed after Martin took office in January 2011.

Firefighters’ widows and supporters of the memorial petitioned Martin over the past six months to repopulate the commission so it can vote on the memorial. Martin filled two of the vacancies in December and two in January.

In January 2012, supporters of the proposed memorial announced they had raised enough money to construct it and were waiting on the final OK from Martin before the item could be brought before the Arts and Grounds Commission.

Johnny Reep, chairman of the Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial, said the group received tentative approval for the plan before the money was raised. He said he hopes the new commission members give the project the green light.

“They should just look at it and say, ‘Yeah you’ve got it,’” Reep said. “We’ll cross our fingers.”

Designs for the 50-by-70-foot memorial plaza include a fountain and a statue, a memorial wall, an amphitheater that can seat 110 people and two walkways.

There are 14 monuments on the grounds of the Arkansas Capitol, including one for Confederate women, one for Vietnam veterans and for war prisoners.

The oldest monument, which recognizes Confederate soldiers, was dedicated in 1905. It is located on the northeast corner of the grounds.

The most-recent monument is dedicated to the Little Rock Nine. The sculpture, located on the north side of the Capitol, was dedicated in 2005.

Arkansas, Pages 9 on 02/02/2013