Former department seeks to honor legacy with silhouette tribute where their service began
PORT ALLEN – As the Port Allen Volunteer Fire Department winds down operations, the organization wants to leave behind a lasting tribute at Centennial Park—a firefighter silhouette memorial honoring decades of service at the site where the department originally began.
The proposal, presented to the city council’s Public Works Committee on November 5th by Mayor Terecita Pattan on behalf of Barry Brewer, would use funds remaining in the dissolved volunteer department’s account to create a permanent memorial recognizing the firefighters who served Port Allen before the department transitioned to parish control.
Winding Down Operations
The volunteer fire department, established March 11, 1935, operated under the city’s umbrella until fire services transitioned to West Baton Rouge Parish oversight in 2014. As the volunteer organization winds down, the remaining few members have between $20,000 and $21,000 left in their account.
Rather than letting those funds remain unused as the organization fades, the remaining volunteers decided to create something meaningful for the community they once protected.
“They wanted to put it somewhere where it started,” Mayor Pattan explained to council members. “And it started within the city limits. So they thought that would be a good place instead of putting it by the courthouse.”
Councilman Garry Hubble provided additional context about the volunteers’ reasoning: “This group was started as Port Allen. It wasn’t WBR Parish. And they decided, talking with Barry, they decided they wanted to if there was a memorial like this or recognition, they wanted to just stay in Port Allen city limits because that’s the way they started. That’s the way they ended. Instead of parish-wide.”
The proposed location is just outside the gazebo at Centennial Park, near the cemetery on South River Road and Ave A. The memorial would be positioned to the right side when facing the gazebo. Plans include lighting to illuminate the memorial, ensuring visibility even after dark.
The Design and Cost
Working with Grant Monument on Court Street, the former firefighters developed a design featuring a silhouette of a firefighter mounted on a marble slab with commemorative wording. The design focuses on honoring the service itself rather than listing individual names.
The total cost comes to approximately $23,000, excluding tax. With the volunteer department holding slightly over $20,000, they’re asking the city to cover the difference—with the city capping its contribution at $3,500 through a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement.
Vote Tonight
The proposal appears as Item #8 on tonight’s council agenda for formal approval. The Cooperative Endeavor Agreement authorizing up to $3,500 in city funding will be presented by Mayor Pattan at the 5:30 PM meeting.
Grant Monument’s representative provided preliminary designs and cost estimates during the committee meeting, with final documentation prepared for tonight’s vote.
Council Reception
Council members responded positively to the proposal, with several noting the relatively modest city contribution compared to other community donations.
“I don’t have a problem with it since they asked for $2,000,” said Councilwoman Charlene Gordon. “It’s just like as much we give to someone for parades and stuff.”
The presentation emphasized that as the organization winds down, the volunteers want to ensure their legacy remains within Port Allen city limits, where their department was founded and where they served the community for decades before the transition to parish-wide fire services.
Next Steps
The city council will vote on the proposal tonight at their regular meeting. Council members previously requested detailed cost documentation, and the agreement now specifies the city’s maximum contribution at $3,500.
If approved, the memorial would provide a permanent tribute to the volunteer firefighters who answered calls and protected Port Allen residents during the department’s decades of service—a lasting recognition as the organization itself comes to a close.
The Port Allen City Council meets tonight, Wednesday, November 13, 2025, at 5:30 PM at City Hall. The volunteer firefighter memorial proposal is Item #8 on the agenda.
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