Westerville's First Responders Park was first dedicated in 2010 to honor first responders, and in 2019 it was expanded to further serve the community of Westerville, the Central Ohio Region, and all first responders by honoring their courage and resilience. The park's centerpiece is a section of steel known as "C-40" from the North Tower of the World Trade Center that fell during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Its memorial wall and fountain carry the names of local heroes, and "The Crossing," a sculpture honoring fallen Westerville firefighter David Theisen, stands in the southwest corner of the park. In 1998, David was killed while battling a fire in Crooksville, Ohio. On February 10, 2018, Westerville Division of Police Officers Anthony P. Morelli and Eric Joering were killed in the line of duty. These are the fallen first responders whose names represent service and sacrifice in public safety.
