Cranes of Hope to Honor Fallen Heroes on Aug. 17

In 2012, the STL Crane Project honored the 133 first responders killed in the line of duty in the St. Louis metropolitan area since 1959 by covering Art Hill with 1,000 paper cranes.

In 2013, the group will add six more names to that list. The Crane Project will again display its large paper cranes in Forest Park on Aug. 17-18. The cranes were originally scheduled to be on display this weekend but inclement weather pushed the date back. 

The six new fallen heroes include Chesterfield Police Department members Joseph Smith and Christopher Simpson. Christopher R. Parsons of the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Jeffery Hudson, St. Louis City Fire Department; Timothy P. Jansen, Santa Fe Fire Protection District; and Kyle W. Deatherage of the Illinois State Police will also be honored. 

To see a full gallery of the 2012 STL Crane Project ceremony, visit University City Patch's Facebook gallery. 

The cranes will be sold for $10. One hundred percent of the funds raised will go to The Backstoppers, an organization that provides financial assistance to the families of St. Louis area first responders killed in the line of duty, and Responder Rescue. 

"CMS Marketing is sponsoring us this year — they are paying for all the paper," said Rick Ruderer, Director STL Crane Project.

Cranes can be purchased ahead of time by going to the STL Crane Project's web site. 

University City has has four first responders on the list. They are:

• Sgt. Michael King — Oct. 31, 2008
• Francis Graham — Feb. 22, 1976
• James Boevingloh — Jan. 23, 1970
• William Downey — Dec. 12, 1969