There will be a public unveiling of the Horses of Honor® Omaha at 10 a.m. Friday on the east end of Turner Park, near Dodge and 31st streets at Midtown Crossing.
Horses of Honor® Omaha is a public art exhibition in Turner Park. The art honors the Omaha Police Department’s fallen heroes. According to the website, “the project mirrors the Horses of Honor® inaugural program held in Chicago and includes life-size horse statues that are artistically and individually designed by Omaha area artists.”
The Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is among the community sponsors for the event.
The project will feature seven life-size statues of mounted patrol unit horses prominently displayed throughout Turner Park. An eighth horse is planned for the Omaha Police Headquarters. Each fabricated horse, designed by a local artist, will commemorate a fallen Omaha officer.
All eight horses will be unveiled during the ceremony and later installed in the park. Speakers for the event include:
- KETV Anchor Rob McCartney, who will emcee;
- Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer;
- Lt. Darci Tierney;
- Omaha Police Foundation President Dr. Jack Lewis;
- Stacy Laue, widow of Jason Pratt.; and
- Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert.
The Friday event will be followed by a tribute concert at the park Saturday, with the park opening at 5 p.m. and music by The Finest Hour and Recaptured: The Journey Tribute Band beginning at 6:30 p.m. There will be a fireworks display immediately following the concert.
Net proceeds from the project will benefit the Omaha Police Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization working to ensure Omaha officers have the training and equipment they need to prevent crime, save lives and make Omaha a safer city.
“We would like to thank all of our project sponsors for partnering with us to celebrate the legacies of our fallen officers, bring the community together and support the vitally important work of the Omaha Police Foundation,” Chief Schmaderer said.