EMMITSBURG, Md. - The families and colleagues of firefighters killed in the line of duty will be allowed to visit the memorial at the National Fire Academy here on Saturday afternoon.
"Despite the Federal Government shutdown and the impact that it is having on the fire community's Memorial Weekend events, it was critical to find a way for families to have the opportunity to pay their respects at the sacred site located on our campus," USFA Administrator Ernest Mitchell, Jr. said in a prepared statement.
Through the cooperation of U.S. House of Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), the USFA and FEMA, the families and friends of the fallen heroes will have access to the memorial. Buses will bring them to the fire academy campus for a brief visit on Saturday following the candlelight vigil at the Basilica.
The candlelight vigil, which is not open to the public, has been moved to 4 p.m. Firehouse.com will carry a live stream of the candlelight vigil on the homepage Saturday and the memorial service on Sunday.
On Thursday afternoon, padlocks on gates kept people off the grounds of the National Fire Academy.