WHAT: Congressional Flag Presentation to National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
WHEN: Wednesday, September 30, 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Upper Senate Park, United States Capitol
Public is welcome to attend special tribute
Emmitsburg, MD – To mark the beginning of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, leaders of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus will present 87 American flags flown over the U.S. Capitol to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) at the Upper Senate Park on Wednesday, September 30 at 2:00 pm.
Join area firefighters, Congressional representatives and U.S. Fire Administration leaders in this special tribute to 84 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2014 and three who died in previous years. These flags will be given to surviving relatives at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service on Sunday, October 4 in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
“We encourage all area firefighters, their families and friends, and anyone who supports and admires our nation’s firefighters to join us for this important ceremony,” said Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki, executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. “The Foundation is honored by this gesture from Congress. It illustrates the great respect so many citizens have for the fire service.”
Following brief remarks by Fire Caucus leaders, a fire service honor guard will conduct a formal flag-folding ceremony. The flags will be placed in special cases, carried to a fire engine then escorted by motorcade to Emmitsburg for a brief ceremony. The flag cases will be displayed in the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Chapel until the service on Sunday.
The Congressional Flag Presentation Ceremony was coordinated by CFSI, NFFF and leaders of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.
Motorcade Travel Route:
The fire engine will leave the Capitol Complex at approximately 3:00 pm and travel from the District of Columbia to I-395 South and onto the northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway. From there, the motorcade will follow the Capital Beltway to Maryland and I-270 North, then take I-70 North to Frederick. It will then travel North on Route 15 to Emmitsburg, exiting onto South Seton Avenue. The motorcade is expected to arrive at the campus of the National Emergency Training Center and the home of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial at approximately 5:15 pm. Individuals interested in observing the motorcade are encouraged to be cautious and stop only in a safe location along the route.
About National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
The NFFF’s mission is to honor and remember America’s fallen firefighters. The NFFF provides resources to assist their survivors in rebuilding their lives and works within the fire service community to prevent firefighter deaths and injuries. For more information about the NFFF visit www.firehero.org