Fallen Firefighters to Be Honored This Weekend

The 30th Annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend will be held at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland, this weekend, 15-16 October. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) will honor 72 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2010, plus 17 who died in previous years. A bronze plaque containing their names will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, located on the National Fire Academy campus.

New England firefighters to be honored include:

   Connecticut:

      Bruce Bachinsky, Waterbury Fire Department

      Michel Baik, Bridgeport Fire Department

      Kevin J. Swan, Beacon Hose Co. #1

      Steven J. Velasquez, Bridgeport Fire Department

   Maine:

      Brian Joseph Rowe, West Fork Volunteer Fire Department

   Massachusetts:

      Kenneth D. Marshall, Jr., Rehoboth Fire Department

      David A. Sullivan, Otis Fire Department

   Vermont:

      Peter James Coe, Shoreham Volunteer Fire Department

      Steven N. “Vinny” Costello, Burlington Fire Department

Many fire departments throughout this region and across the country will conduct simultaneous services, lower flags to half‐staff, sound sirens, and observe a moment of silent tribute. For the first time in Memorial Weekend history, departments and local places of worship are invited to participate in Bells Across America for Fallen Firefighters, a national moment of remembrance, to honor those who died in the line of duty.

The NFFF is once again providing live coverage of both the Candlelight Service on Saturday and the Memorial Service on Sunday for those who are unable to attend in person.  The public will be able access the telecast via streaming video on the internet and by satellite broadcast.

Live Broadcasts:

   Candlelight Service Broadcast:

      Saturday, October 15, 2011: 6:00 - 8:00 PM Eastern Time
      Telecast Begins at 6:15 PM; Service Begins at 6:30 PM Eastern Time

   Memorial Service Broadcast:

      Sunday, October 16, 2011: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM Eastern Time

      Telecast Begins at 9:30 AM; Service Begins at 10:00 AM Eastern Time

Background information:

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

Bells Across America for Fallen Firefighters

U.S. Fire Administration

2011 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend Live Broadcasts