Firehouse.com News

EMMITSBURG, Md. -- Career and volunteer firefighters from 30 states and the District of Columbia who died serving their communities will be remembered during the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend on October 7-8, 2000, at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency sponsor the annual national tribute.

Memorial Weekend Schedule Friday, October 6 Escort Registration 4:00 to 7:30 pm Saturday, October 7 Escort Registration 8:30 to 10:00 am Family Registration 8:30 to 10:00 am Escort Orientation 10:00 am Family Day Opening Session 10:30 am Small Group Sessions 1:00 pm Family Picnic 5:00 pm Candlelight Service 6:30 pm Sunday, October 8 Honor Guard Unit Registration 7:30 am Family Chapel Service 9:30 am Immediate Families Only Family Chapel Service 9:30 am General Public National Memorial Service 10:30 am General Public

The Weekend honors the firefighters killed in the line of duty each year and recognizes the dedication and service of firefighters nationwide. Last year 104 firefighters paid the ultimate price. They include six Worcester, Massachusetts firefighters who died in a warehouse fire, three Fort Worth, Texas-area firefighters killed fighting a church fire, and 18 volunteer and career firefighters who died in incidents related to wildland, grass and brush fires.

More than 4,000 people, including families and coworkers of the fallen firefighters, fire and emergency services leaders, and state, local, and federal government officials, will take part in a wide variety of ceremonial Memorial Weekend events. The Weekend focuses on honoring the fire heroes and providing support services for their families and friends. Special events include Family Day sessions for survivors, a Candlelight ceremony, a private family Chapel Service, and the official National Memorial Service on October 8. The tributes conclude with the unveiling of a bronze plaque adding the names of the 1999 fallen firefighters. Since 1981, 2,077 firefighters have been honored at the national monument.

In 1990, the U. S. Congress designated the monument as the official national memorial site for all volunteer and career firefighters who died in the line of duty. Congress established the NFFF to lead national efforts to honor fallen firefighters and assist their families. The NFFF is currently expanding the monument site to create the first, permanent National Memorial Park honoring all firefighters-past, present and future.

The public National Memorial ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. (EDT). Many fire departments will conduct simultaneous services, lower flags to half-staff, sound sirens at noon, and observe a moment of silence. It will be broadcast live on the following coordinates:

• KU Band: Telestar 6, Transponder 16, Polarization-Horizontal, Channel 16, downlink frequency 11997.5 MHz, 93 degrees West Longitude
  
• KU Technical trouble: (215) 429-5058, 5059, 5060, 5061
  
• C-band: Telstar 6, Transponder 16, Polarization-Horizontal, Channel 16, downlink frequency 4020 MHz, 93 degrees West Longitude
  
• C-Band Technical Trouble: (717) 221-2959
  
• Audio is 6.2-6.8.