National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Weekend Events will be Impacted by Shutdown

EMMITSBURG, MD -- As the clock ticks closer to the annual National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service, organizers are getting ready and preparing for changes as the grounds of the National Fire Academy remain closed due to the partial government shutdown.

National Fallen Firefighter Foundation (NFFF) officials have been busy making alternative plans in case the campus is not open in time for the May 2-3 memorial weekend events when the sacrifices of 204 firefighters will be remembered. 

The honorees include 97 firefighters who died in 2025 and 107 who perished in previous years.

"This is the unintended consequence of a broader federal disruption. While funding lapses are often discussed in terms of budgets and operations, their impact reaches far beyond government offices. In this case, it affects families who have already given more than most will ever be asked to give," NFFF CEO Victor Stagnaro wrote in a statement. 

"The Memorial is not just a backdrop for ceremony, it is the place where the nation’s promise is made tangible. It is where individual loss becomes part of a shared national memory. Without access to that space, families are denied a moment that cannot be recreated elsewhere."

"For many Fire Hero Families, attending Memorial Weekend is a once-in-a-lifetime journey. It requires significant planning, financial sacrifice, and emotional strength. Some travel across the country. Others come from small departments that rally to ensure a family can attend. They come to stand where their loved one’s service is recognized at the national level. to see the name, to touch it, and to know that it will not be forgotten."

If the campus remains off-limits, the ceremony and candlelight vigil will be held at Mount St. Mary's University.

The National Fire Sprinkler Association is calling on the nation's fire and EMS personnel to contact their local Congressional representatives to request access to the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial during the May 2-3 weekend when events are scheduled.

Click here to join the effort to keep the memorial open.

"This federal disruption affects families who have already given everything. National recognition matters. A permanent place of honor matters. And access to that place, especially when families may have only one chance to be there, matters deeply. For our fallen firefighters’ families, this is not just an event. It is the fulfillment of a promise," NFSA President Shane Ray wrote in a statement.

“This is an example of ‘Fire Service One Voice’ in action and we are happy to support the NFFF and stand united with our plea to everyone for support.”

Stagnaro added: “Ensuring access to this sacred space is not optional. It is essential."