Memorial Coverage Underwritten By
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NFFF Details Washington D.C. Memorial Service
TIFFANI ALEXANDER
Firehouse.Com News
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service weekend, October 4-6, will
move to a new location. The weekend, a yearly event planned by The National
Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) at their Emmitsburg, Maryland
location, to honor firefighters who died in the line of duty, will be held
in Washington, D.C. this year in order to accommodate the large crowds that
are expected to attend.
A total of 446 firefighters will be honored. Among those to be honored are
the 347 firefighters who were killed in the World Trade Center on September
11. A total of 95 firefighters who died in 34 states throughout 2001 will
also be honored as well as 4 firefighters who were lost in past years.
Some of the events are reserved for family, friends and colleagues only, but
several of the events are open to the public. The opening reception on
Friday, October 4, as well as the family counseling sessions that will be
held Saturday morning, are reserved events that will be held downtown.
An event that is open to the public and motorcycle riders in particular is
the Red Helmets Motorcycle Ride. The ride, an annual part of the tribute
celebration, will be held on October 5 and will begin at 11 a.m. at the
Pentagon’s North Parking Lot. The ride will conclude at the National Law
enforcement Officers Memorial in D.C.
Another event for Saturday includes a Candlelight Service to be held at 7
p.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception at
Catholic University. The service will include musical selections, video
footage of each firefighter and the lighting of the Remembrance Candle.
The weekend culminates with the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial
Service on October 6 at the MCI Center. Honor guard units and bagpipe bands
will lead the Procession Of Honor, which will begin at 11 a.m. and be staged
along Constitution Avenue. 7th street leading up to MCI Center will be
lined with uniformed firefighters from around the world paying tribute.
This forms the “Sea of Blue.” The procession will be led by family members
of fallen firefighters who will be honored at this year’s event.
The memorial service will start at 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 6. Those in
attendance will include fire service personnel from across the country as
well as nationally recognized speakers. The service will include videos,
musical tributes and the unveiling of the memorial plaque listing the names
of the firefighters being honored. The plaque will be placed at The
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland in honor of
the fallen heroes.
For events such as the candlelight service and the memorial service in the
MCI Center, large-screen viewing will be available on the streets and public
areas.
Additional information can can be found on the NFFF web site.
http://www.firehero.org/
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Weekend
October 4-6, Event Details
| WELCOME RECEPTIONS | |
WHO
BY INVITATION ONLY
Family, friends, and colleagues of fallen firefighters being honored this year
WHAT
Two welcome receptions, one at each family hotel
WHEN
Friday, October 4, 2002, 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm.
WHERE
Downtown Washington, D.C
ACCESS
General public does not have access to these receptions.
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FAMILY COUNSELING SESSIONS
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WHO
Surviving family members of fallen firefighters only.
WHAT
Family members will join one another to share their experiences coping
with the loss of a loved one. Trained grief counselors will lead the
sessions.
During the Opening Session, family members will learn more about the
Weekend and hear from some returning family members about resources
available through the Foundation year round.
While adults attend the Opening Session, children will take part in a
special art activity. Fire service clowns and other adults will help them
decorate tributes to each of the 446 fallen firefighters. These tributes
will be used during the Saturday evening Candlelight Service and each family
will be given these handcrafted tributes in memory of their loved one.
In the afternoon, small groups will be set up based upon relationships to
the fallen firefighters, so fathers meet with fathers, spouses with spouses,
etc. There will also be groups and activities provided for kindergarten,
elementary, middle, and high school age children, and for young adults.
WHEN
October 5, 2002, 10:30 am until 4:00 pm
WHERE
Downtown Washington, D.C.
ACCESS
General public does not have access to these sessions.
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| RED HELMETS MOTORCYCLE RIDE | |
WHO
An estimated 5,000 motorcycle riders will participate. Dignitaries
will deliver remarks before the Ride leaves the Pentagon. All motorcycle
riders are invited to attend.
WHAT
The Red Helmets Motorcycle Ride is an annual tribute to fallen
firefighters. The Ride will begin after a wreath-laying ceremony at the
Pentagon’s North Parking Lot. Riders will leave the parking lot and pass a
family hotel. A second wreath will be placed at the National Law
Enforcement Officers Memorial at the end of the ride. More information is
available at www.redhelmetsmcride.org.
WHEN
October 5, 2002, beginning at 11:00 am and ending at approximately
12:30 pm. Riders are encouraged to be in the Pentagon North Parking Lot at
10:00 am.
WHERE
The Ride begins at the Pentagon’s North Parking Lot and concludes at
the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial located on E Street, NW
between 4th and 5th Streets, in downtown Washington, D.C.
ACCESS
Credentialed media are encouraged to attend all phases. The general
public should gather at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to
watch the procession.
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CANDLELIGHT SERVICE
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WHO
Survivors, family, friends, and colleagues of fallen firefighters.
Nationally-recognized speakers to deliver remarks.
WHAT
The service will feature musical selections by members of the fire
service and survivors of fallen firefighters. Fire service honor guard
members will light special luminary tributes. A video featuring each
honored hero will be shown. As part of the ceremony, survivors will light
the Remembrance Candle, a symbol of the hope and enduring friendship shared
by all who have lost a beloved firefighter in the line of duty.
WHEN
October 5, 2002
Doors open at 5:00 pm. The ceremony begins at 7:00 pm.
WHERE
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
400 Michigan Avenue, NE, Washington, D.C.
ACCESS
Credentialed media are encouraged to attend. There will be reserved
seating for the families of the firefighters being honored at this year’s
Memorial, for survivors of firefighters honored in previous years, and for
members of the departments of the fallen firefighters. A large screen
viewing area for the general public will be located on the grounds of
Catholic University directly adjacent to the event venue.
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| PROCESSION OF HONOR | |
WHO
Surviving family members of fallen firefighters.
Fire service personnel from around the world.
WHAT
In a visual show of support, an unprecedented number of honor guard
units and bagpipe bands will lead a procession to the MCI Center, site of
the National Memorial Service. Firefighters from across the world will form
a “Sea of Blue” along the route as buses carrying the families of the fallen
firefighters pass by. Uniformed firefighters from the departments of those
being honored will follow the buses. Fire apparatus will form ladder arches
with the American Flag hung from the cross sections.
Fire service personnel along the streets will remain in place until the last
unit in the procession passes. Then they will be directed to the MCI Center
and the Navy Memorial where they will be able to watch the program on large
Jumbotron screens.
WHEN
October 6, 2002, 11:00 am
WHERE
The Procession of Honor will stage on Constitution Avenue between
14th Street and 10th Street. Constitution Avenue from 10th Street to 7th
Street and all of 7th Street up to the MCI Center will be lined with
uniformed firefighters from around the world who will form a “Sea of Blue”
through which the Procession of Honor will pass.
Pennsylvania Avenue between 14 th Street and 7 th Street will be used as an
assembly area for the thousands of fire service members who will be in
attendance for this event. This area will serve as both a pre- and
post-gathering point for the Procession of Honor that will begin on
Constitution Avenue and 10th Street. Following the National Tribute, a
reception will be held in this area for all event participants. Light
refreshments will be provided. Alcoholic beverages will not be served.
During the National Tribute, it is anticipated that 6th Street between F
Street and G Street, along with 7 th Street between F Street and G Street
and F Street between 6 th Street and 7 th Street will be used as a mass
gathering area for overflow attendance at the event. For this venue, it is
expected that the MCI Center will be filled to capacity. To accommodate the
thousands of fire service members who wish to view the National Tribute, the
Foundation will provide Jumbotron Screens in this area. When the program
ends these individuals will return to Pennsylvania Avenue.
COMPONENTS
The Family Procession of Honor:
- Families of fallen firefighters being honored this year.
- Registered Honor Guard Units.
- Bag Pipe Units from around the world.
- Uniformed fire service personnel from departments that have a fallen
firefighter being honored.
Staging Area for Procession of Honor Participants:
Participants from departments that have a fallen firefighter being honored
or are a registered honor guard or bagpipe member will report to the line-up
area on Constitution Avenue and 14th Street NW. Members of the fire service
driving in for the day should report directly to RFK Stadium. Parking for
buses and cars will be available at $5 per car or $20 per bus.
The Sea of Blue:
Active members of the fire service, as well as ladies’ auxiliary members,
retirees, and department-related scout members will line along the streets
along which the Procession will pass.
Staging Area for Sea of Blue Participants:
All fire service personnel planning to take part in the Sea of Blue must
stage at RFK Stadium. The lot will open at 6:00 a.m. Members of the fire
service driving in for the day should report directly to RFK Stadium.
Parking for buses and cars will be available at $5 per car or $20 per bus.
Individuals staying in the DC-area are being encouraged to take Metro
(subway).
Sea of Blue Activities:
All fire service personnel who are not part of the Family Procession are
invited to line both sides of Constitution Avenue from 10th Street to 7th
Street and 7th Street to the MCI Center forming a Sea of Blue. This
promises to be the largest show of respect and unity in the history of this
Nation’s fire service.
The Sea of Blue will extend approximately 10 blocks, lining both
sides of the street, shoulder-to-shoulder, and facing toward the street.
The Procession of Honor led by the families will pass through the Sea of
Blue on its way to the Memorial Service at the MCI Center. Other units in
the procession will march behind the family buses. Sea of Blue participants
will remain in place until the last group in the family procession has
passed by. Immediately following the Procession of Honor, Fire Service
personnel will be directed to the MCI Center and the
- Navy Memorial where they can assemble to view the 1 p.m. Memorial Service
on large, outdoor television screens (Jumbotrons). A large hosted reception
at the Navy Memorial will follow the Memorial Service.
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NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL SERVICE
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WHO
Family, friends and comrades of fallen firefighters
Fire service personnel from across the country and world
Nationally- recognized speakers
WHAT
A grateful Nation will honor its fallen fire heroes at the official
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service on Sunday, October 6. This
year’s tribute will take place in the MCI Center, Washington, D.C.’s largest
indoor arena.
The special service will remember the 442 men and women from 34 states who
died in the line of duty in 2001. This includes the 347 firefighters who
died in the World Trade Center tragedy. Four firefighters who died in
previous years will also be honored.
The ceremony, rich in fire service traditions, will begin with an honor
guard and bag piper salute. Video and musical tributes will celebrate the
lives of these special men and women who died in service to their
communities. The ceremony will include the unveiling of the memorial plaques
listing the names of the fallen heroes. The plaques will be placed
permanently at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg,
Maryland.
WHEN
October 6, 2002, 1:00 pm
WHERE
MCI Center
601 F Street, NW
Washington, D.C.
Viewing areas located outside the MCI Center (above) and the Navy Memorial.
The Navy Memorial
701 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C.
ACCESS
Credentialed news media are encouraged to attend this event. Only
ticketed participants will be allowed inside the MCI Center.
Large screen viewing areas will be located in the F Street Corridor and at
the Navy Memorial. All crowds will be diverted to the Navy Memorial once F
Street reaches capacity.
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