International Association of Firefighters
NEW YORK - The International Association of Fire Fighters will need 356 honor guard members from IAFF affiliates across the U.S. and Canada as flag bearers to lead the procession on the morning of October 12. Another 356 honor guards will be needed as flag bearers to line the second tier of Madison Square Garden during the FDNY/IAFF memorial service in Manhattan. Additional honor guard members will be needed for other official duties during the procession and after the ceremony.
Tens of thousands of fire fighters and paramedics are expected to participate in the procession up 8th Avenue which will precede the Memorial Service at the Garden. The event, which is the official FDNY Memorial Service, will honor the 343 members of IAFF Local 94 and 854 who were killed on 9-11 and other FDNY fire fighters who were killed over the last two years.
"It is our duty and responsibility as members of the IAFF to show respect for our fallen brothers in New York, just as we have done in processions and services in Worcester, Seattle, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Houston, Los Angeles, Manlius, NY, St. Louis, and so many other communities over the years," said IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger.
In a scene reminiscent of this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade, where 343 FDNY "probies" carried American flags and led thousands of fire fighters in front of the parade, IAFF honor guard members will carry 356 flags. In addition, another 356 honor guards will carry flags into Madison Square Garden and line the second tier of the facility throughout the ceremony. The procession will be led by IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger, the presidents of Locals 94 and 854, and the FDNY pipes and drums.
All honor guard members who wish to carry U.S. flags at the front of the procession or carry U.S. flags into Madison Square Garden for the ceremony must register with the IAFF on the IAFF web site - www.iaff.org. An application for this purpose will be established shortly on the web site. U.S. flags and flag poles will be provided by the IAFF. Honor guards and pipes and drums that wish to march in the procession carrying their own colors need not register, but are urged and encouraged to attend. They will be staged throughout the procession with their fire department members for the march.
All fire fighters, paramedics, and honor guards that attend the October 12 event will participate in the procession. All honor guards who plan on participating must gather at the staging area on 11th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, by 6 am on the morning of Saturday, October 12. All fire fighters must gather at the staging area by 7 am.
There will be no gathering outside Madison Square Garden on the morning of October 12 because of the logistics of bringing the 356 families and FDNY members into the facility. Those fire fighters and paramedics not intending to participate in the procession will not be allowed to assemble in the streets surrounding Madison Square Garden prior to the arrival of the procession. All fire fighters will be directed from the area and allowed to fill in at the end of the procession. IAFF marshals and NYPD officers will direct all fire fighters to the gathering spot.
Jumbotron screens will be strategically located outside the Garden to enable all fire fighters in the procession to view the FDNY/IAFF ceremony inside the facility. Families of the fallen New York fire fighters, FDNY personnel, and dignitaries inside the Garden will be able to view the procession and massive gathering of fire fighters outside.
IAFF General President Schaitberger also extends his thanks and appreciation to the more than 500 honor guards, 140 pipes and drums, and thousands of IAFF members who attended the 16th annual IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Observance, which drew nearly 12,000 participants to the September 21 ceremony in Colorado Springs.
