WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced legislation (S. 2061) this week to designate the Memorial to Fallen Educators at Emporia State University (ESU) as a national memorial. 

“Tragically, educators have lost their lives while carrying out their profession,” Sen. Moran said. “This memorial is about making certain those educators are forever remembered for the sacrifice they made while serving those around them. It is the only memorial in the country dedicated to fallen educators, and a worthy memorial to be deemed the ‘National Memorial to Fallen Educators.’”

The Memorial to Fallen Educators is located on the ESU campus, in conjunction with the National Teacher Hall of Fame (NTHF). The memorial lists the names of educators since 1764 who have lost their lives while working with students. The memorial is built and paid for, and was dedicated in June 2014.

The memorial would still be owned and cared for by the NTHF and ESU, but would have the prestige of a national of memorial. There is no taxpayer cost associated with the legislation – private funds will continue to be used to maintain the memorial.