NFFF: 2023 Memorial Weekend

“Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them.”

– George Eliot

Honoring the Fallen.

If you have never attended the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland you need to go. The weekend consists of honoring firefighters who died in the Line of Duty. Families of the fallen are invited to attend and are the most honored guests. and they have family escorts that help them navigate the events of the entire weekend. The family services are paramount to the success of the weekend, but there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes that impact firefighters.

If you are a chief, co-worker, officer, or were in command of the incident when the LODD occurred you’re invited to attend groups to discuss how the LODD is impacting you. While clinicians are present in this group it’s your peers who lead it; other firefighter’s who’ve lost a member in the line of duty. They listen, can truly relate, and validate what you’re going through.

It’s an emotional weekend . The memorials themselves are not to be missed, but there is a candlelight service, wreath laying ceremony, motorcycle ride, and memorial service. It’s a full weekend and you can participate in a variety of ways IF you choose to. You can volunteer to escort a family, work the event through logistics, set-up, standing guard, and supporting in a variety of other ways. Or you can simply choose to attend to honor your brothers and sisters in the fire service.

It’s a very moving experience to see so many firefighters from all over the nation coming together for a common cause. Hope to see you there next year.