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 Florida firefighters:
Engineer/Paramedic Douglas Clemmons, age 56, of the Polk County Fire Department, suffered a heart attack on 6/14/2022 while participating in physical fitness training at the fire station.
Firefighter/EMT Austin Duran, age 25, of the Apopka Fire Department and another firefighter were moving a sand trailer to another fire station on 6/30/2022 in preparation for hazardous materials emergency responses. The trailer fell in the process of hooking it up, pinning down Firefighter/EMT Duran. He was immediately taken to the hospital where he remained in the Intensive Care Unit until he died on 7/15/2022.
Lieutenant James Hunt, age 65, of the City of Melbourne Fire Department, died 3/29/2022 due to complications of cancer, deemed by the State of Florida to be in the line of duty.
Battalion Chief Terryson Jackson, age 50, of the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Department of Fire/Rescue, was part of the flight crew that was dispatched to an emergency medical call regarding a traffic crash with injuries on 8/28/23. The helicopter sustained an in-flight emergency and crashed into an apartment building. Battalion Chief Jackson died in the crash. An individual inside the apartment was also pronounced deceased at the scene.
Deputy Chief Robert Low Jr., age 56, of the Greater Naples Fire Rescue District, died on 5/19/23, due to complications of cancer, deemed by the State of Florida to be a line-of-duty death.
Engineer/Paramedic Jeremy McKay, age 45, of the Clay County Fire Rescue, died on 11/27/19, due to complications of Adenocarcinoma, deemed by the State of Florida to be a line-of-duty death.
Captain Richard “Brian” Wolnewitz, age 44, of the Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue, died on 8/16/22, due to complications of lung cancer, deemed by the State of Florida to be a line-of-duty death.
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
