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National Fallen Firefighters Memorial since 1990 is officially designated by the
Official website
{{coord, 39, 41, 42.05, N, 77, 19, 32.78, W, region:US-MD_type:landmark, display=title 1981 establishments in Maryland Buildings and structures in Frederick County, Maryland Buildings and structures completed in 1981 Emmitsburg, Maryland Firefighting memorials Firefighting in the United States Monuments and memorials in Maryland National Memorials of the United States Monuments and memorials on the National Register of Historic Places in Maryland
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial since 1990 is officially designated by the United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...
as the National Memorial to career and volunteer fallen firefighters. Located in Emmitsburg, Maryland
Emmitsburg is a town in Frederick County, Maryland, United States, south of the Mason-Dixon line separating Maryland from Pennsylvania. Founded in 1785, Emmitsburg is the home of Mount St. Mary's University. The town has two Catholic pilgrima ...
, it was conceived as a tribute to American fire service. The memorial was constructed in 1981 on the campus of the National Fire Academy
The National Fire Academy (NFA) is one of two schools in the United States operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Operated and governed by the Unit ...
. Plaques listing the names of firefighters encircle the plaza from the same year. When a firefighter dies on duty, local fire officials notify the United States Fire Administration
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) is a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) located in unincorporated Frederick County, Maryland, near Emmitsburg. Per the official website, "the mission of the U.S. Fire Administra ...
and a notice is immediately posted on the Memorial grounds. The flags over the Memorial are flown at half-staff
Half-mast or half-staff (American English) refers to a flag flying below the summit of a ship mast, a pole on land, or a pole on a building. In many countries this is seen as a symbol of respect, mourning, distress, or, in some cases, a salu ...
in honor of the fallen firefighter. If some criteria are met, the fallen firefighter is honored at the annual memorial service. The Memorial is open to the public throughout the year.
On October 16, 2001, President George W. Bush
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...
approved legislation requiring the United States flag to be lowered to half-staff
Half-mast or half-staff (American English) refers to a flag flying below the summit of a ship mast, a pole on land, or a pole on a building. In many countries this is seen as a symbol of respect, mourning, distress, or, in some cases, a salu ...
on all federal buildings to memorialize fallen firefighters. Public Law 107-51 requires this action to occur annually in conjunction with observance of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. The date of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service is traditionally the first Sunday in October. A candlelight vigil service is held the night before the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. Both services are held at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. These services memorialize Fallen Firefighters from around the nation.In 2020, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Foundation held a virtual ceremony to remember Fallen firefighters.
See also
*List of firefighting monuments and memorials
This is a list of firefighting monuments and memorials which provide notable commemoration of firefighters' contributions. It also includes some notable monuments and memorials to fire victims other than firefighters, such as the mass memorial to ...
* New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial
The New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Albany, New York is dedicated to the New York firefighters who have died in the line of duty. Governor of New York George Pataki officially dedicated the memorial on October 5, 1998. It features a ...
* IAFF Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is a labor union representing paid full-time firefighters and emergency medical services personnel in the United States and Canada. The IAFF was formed in 1918 and is affiliated with the AFL ...
References
External links
Official website
{{coord, 39, 41, 42.05, N, 77, 19, 32.78, W, region:US-MD_type:landmark, display=title 1981 establishments in Maryland Buildings and structures in Frederick County, Maryland Buildings and structures completed in 1981 Emmitsburg, Maryland Firefighting memorials Firefighting in the United States Monuments and memorials in Maryland National Memorials of the United States Monuments and memorials on the National Register of Historic Places in Maryland