By Cameron Adams
The Frederick News-Post
EMMITSBURG, Md. — Plans for the 2025 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend on May 3 and 4 are moving ahead, apparently unaffected by recent federal cutbacks.
Gary Krichbaum, managing director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, said the foundation has received no indication that recent funding cuts, such as to the National Fire Academy, will impact the event.
The event features a candlelight service on May 3 and a memorial service on May 4. Both events will be held at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg.
The event will honor 140 people who died in the line of duty, which includes all facets of firefighting nationwide, according to Krichbaum.
Those firefighters come from 33 states, according to the foundation’s website, including five Maryland firefighters being honored:
* Richard E. Blankenship Jr. of the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services
* William Francis Goddard III of Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department
* Robert A. Jones of the Reese and Community Volunteer Fire Company
* Craig E. Ralston of the Ellicott City Volunteer Fire Department
* Michael T. Warfel of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services.
Krichbaum, a member of the Middletown Volunteer Fire Department, said planners estimate that around 800 family members will attend, as well as an additional 800 to 900 firefighters who want to pay their respects.
He said an emphasis for the weekend will be to foster community among attendees.
“We have numerous grieving sessions facilitated by professionals to help families not only deal with the tragedy in their life, but learn how to come together and form a network to help each other out as they move forward,” Krichbaum said.
He described the candlelight service as an “intimate” event that brings families together.
Krichbaum said he has been employed by the NFFF for two years, but has attended the event for over 20 years.
Krichbaum said memorial services can often be somber, but he hopes attendees leave with something positive.
“There is a lot of emotion that goes into it, but the message that we hope the families live with is the message of hope,” he said. “We can come together as a huge family.”
Krichbaum added that people interested in supporting their cause can do so in multiple ways even if they can’t attend.
People will be able to live stream the event from a feed on the NFFF website.
Additionally, from April 28 to May 4, NFFF encourages people to participate in Light the Night.
Krichbaum said residences, companies, local fire stations, government buildings and others will light up red light bulbs “as a symbol honoring the firefighters that died in the line of duty.”
He said the gesture sends “a sign of solidarity to the families that, ‘we stand with you.’”
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