More than 3,000 family members, fire fighters and friends from across the United States and Canada gathered September 17 under sunny skies in Colorado Springs to honor 86 fire fighters whose names were added to the Wall of Honor at the 19th annual IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial observance.
As flags held by hundreds of honor guards ringing the memorial waved in the warm breeze, a single bell tolled as the name of each fallen hero was called and a flag bearing the Maltese cross of the International Association of Fire Fighters was presented by a white-gloved honor guard to each family. As the last name was read, the sound of bugles playing taps floated across the memorial grounds.
IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger addressed the families of the fallen.
