By Laura French
EMMITSBURG, Md. — The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation has invited communities to participate in the annual “Bells Across America for Fallen Firefighters” event on the weekend of Oct. 4, when the NFFF will broadcast a virtual tribute to mark National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.
Fire departments, faith congregations and other community members across the United States ring their bells each year during National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in recognition of firefighters who have died in the line of duty.
The annual tradition, which usually marks the start of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service, will be held this year as part of America’s Tribute to Fallen Firefighters, a virtual event to recognize the memorial weekend in lieu of in-person events. The NFFF announced earlier this year that in-person memorial events would be postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Although we cannot gather in Emmitsburg, we will unite as a nation to salute those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their communities,” said NFFF Board Chairman Troy Markel. “This annual tradition will continue to honor our nation’s heroes and let their families know that their beloved firefighter will always be remembered.”
Participants can sign up to participate on the NFFF’s website and are asked to sound their bells in remembrance any time between Sept. 27 and Oct. 4 in the lead-up to America’s Tribute to Fallen Firefighters.
The tribute will be broadcast on the NFFF homepage, Facebook page and Youtube page on Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. EDT, at which time the bells of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Chapel will also toll in honor of fallen firefighters.
The broadcast will honor 82 firefighters who died in 2019 and 21 firefighters who died in previous years, according to the NFFF.