National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend Will Honor And Remember 226 Firefighters.
EMMITSBURG, Md. – The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) will host the 43rd National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend (Memorial Weekend) on May 4-5, 2024 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. This year’s national tribute will honor 89 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2023 and 137 firefighters who died in previous years. The honorees will include the following Kentucky firefighters:
Assistant Chief Joseph Back, age 59, of the Whitesburg Fire Department, responded to an emergency medical call at a residence on 10/27/2023 where he suffered a heart attack. He was immediately treated and transported to the hospital where he remained in a coma until his death on 10/30/2023.
Fire Chief Homer “H.M.” Bottom, age 82, of the City of Russell Springs Fire Department, died on 10/16/2021 due to complications of COVID-19.
Captain Edwin “Carter” Conley, age 71, of the Magoffin County Rescue Squad, died on 9/12/2021 due to complications of COVID-19.
Firefighter Regina Huffman, age 40, of the Coon Creek Fire & Rescue, responded to an ATV accident with two people seriously injured, and helicopters were summoned for transport. As the apparatus she was riding was responding to the landing site, it slipped from the roadway, She died at the hospital on 10/28/23 due to the injuries sustained in the accident. Her oldest son, Firefighter Benjamin Barton was also in the vehicle. He had minor injuries and was treated and released from the hospital.
Battalion Chief Michael “Sean” Kelly, age 48, of the Murray Fire Department, died on 2/28/2022 due to complications of COVID-19.
Firefighter Clarence Lytle, age 52, of the Georgetown Fire and Recue, died on 6/26/23, from complications of pancreatic cancer, deemed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky to be a line-of-duty death.
Deputy Chief Brian Morgan, age 46, of the Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Protection District, participated in mandated physical training beginning at 2:10 pm on 10/23/20. He was found deceased at home by family members at 10:00 am on 10/24/20.
Captain Bobby Mosby, age 51, of the Nelson Creek Volunteer Fire Department, responded to the Nelson Creek Volunteer Fire Department to pick up the tanker to respond to a field fire on 5/25/2023. As he was leaving the station in the tanker, a firefighter on scene reported that the fire was under control and extinguished. Captain Mosby left the station and returned home. Later that night, he began experiencing chest pains. During the afternoon, collapsed into cardiac arrest, and was transported to the hospital where he passed away on 5/26/23.
Sergeant David Pawley, age 52, of the Louisville Fire Department, died on 9/2/21, due to complications of liver cancer, deemed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky to be a line-of-duty death.
Sergeant Thomas Petschke, age 53, of the Ballardsville Fire & Rescue, was at the scene of a residential fire that had expanded into the woods on 11/11/23. He collapsed while battling the brush fire. He was immediately treated and transported to the local hospital where he died due to a heart attack.
Captain Ernest Rudder, age 74, of the Bush Volunteer Fire Department, died on 9/25/2021 due to complications of COVID-19.
Engineer David Studer, age 54, of the Covington Fire Department, died on 1/20/2022 due to complications of COVID-19.
Assistant Chief William “Sonny” Thompson, age 74, of the Mercer Fire Protection District, died on 8/20/2021 due to complications of COVID-19.
Detailed information about each of the 226 firefighters being memorialized can be found on the 2024 Roll of Honor.
“National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend is a time for our nation to pause and reflect on the heroic efforts and selfless service of the fallen firefighters we are paying tribute to this year,” said NFFF CEO Victor Stagnaro. “We will always remember the bravery, commitment, and sacrifices of each of these 226 heroes—and their families.”
There are two events open to the public at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park on the grounds of the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) during Memorial Weekend.
The National Fallen Firefighters Candlelight Service is on May 4 at 7:30 pm ET and will be hosted by Fire Captain Garon Mosby of the St. Louis Fire Department.
The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service is on May 5 at 10:00 am ET and will be hosted by actor Jeremy Holm.
Fire service and government leaders are scheduled to address the thousands of attendees at the Memorial Service on Sunday, May 5. The NFFF will live stream both events on the NFFF’s website (firehero.org), YouTube channel, and Facebook page.
There are additional events during Memorial Weekend provided exclusively for the families and fire departments of honored firefighters. These include small group sessions and other activities throughout Friday and Saturday; they are open to the families and coworkers of newly honored and previously honored firefighters.
Schedule
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Candlelight Service
Time: 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm ET
Streaming begins at 7:00 pm ET
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Memorial Service
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET
Streaming begins at 9:30 am ET
The NFFF will provide live satellite feeds of both events. Technical support is being provided by VISTA Worldlink, Comcast Beltway, and INTELSAT. Satellite coordinates can be found at live.firehero.org. Images from the 2023 Memorial Weekend are here.
Location
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park
National Emergency Training Center (NETC)
16835 S. Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
How Communities Can Participate
Those not attending Memorial Weekend in person can also pay tribute to this year’s honored firefighters. All can participate in Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters (May 1 – 5) by lighting their homes, businesses, landmarks, or fire departments with red lights. Other ways to remember include Bells Across America, Sound the Sirens, and by signing a virtual Remembrance Banner.
In addition, the American flag will be lowered to half-staff on all Federal buildings on Sunday, May 5. The public is also encouraged to lower their American flags that day to recognize the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Public Access And Parking
Public parking for Memorial Weekend is at Liberty Mountain Resort (78 Country Club Trail, Fairfield, PA). Shuttles from Liberty Mountain Resort will begin at 3:30 pm on Saturday, May 4 for the Candlelight Service and at 7:30 am on Sunday, May 5 for the Memorial Service.
Memorial Weekend is supported by individual and corporate donors, a grant from the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, and in partnership with the U.S. Fire Administration, a component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Social Media: #FireHero2024 #NFFF
Website: weekend.firehero.org
LOCATION if inclement weather
PNC Stadium (ARCC)
Mount Saint Mary University
16300 Old Emmitsburg Rd
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
ABOUT THE NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION (NFFF)
The United States Congress created the NFFF to lead a nationwide effort to honor America’s fallen firefighters. The mission is to honor America’s fallen fire heroes; support their families, colleagues, and organizations; and work to reduce preventable firefighter death and injury. The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park includes the National Fallen Firefighters Monument, the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Chapel, a brick Walk of Honor, a September 11th memorial sculpture, and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Bell of Remembrance. Information about the NFFF and the Memorial Park can be found here.
(Bill Delaney – National Fallen Firefighters Memorial)