For Jonathan Lovelace, nothing compares to being a firefighter. "Wouldn't trade it for the world," said Lovelace with a smile.
He's spent the last year here at the Rocky Mount Fire Department training, learning, and becoming a part of the community. And during that time, right next door, he's watched a quiet memorial grow.
"Well we've been working on developing this memorial for about the last eight years," said Matt Hankins, the assistant town manager in Rocky Mount. He's been involved in this project since the beginning.
The main memorial stone was put in place in October of 2018, and stands about 8 feet high. It's carved with the symbols for the Franklin County Police, Fire and EMS on one side.