The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) is set to host the 43rd National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend on May 4-5, 2024, in Emmitsburg, Maryland. This annual event will pay tribute to 89 firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2023, along with 137 firefighters who died in previous years.
Among those to be honored are several brave firefighters from New Jersey:
- Captain Augusto Acabou, 45, and Captain Wayne Brooks Jr., 49, of the Newark Fire Department, lost their lives while responding to a fire on the Grande Costa D’Avorio Cargo Ship at Port Newark on 7/5/2023.
- Firefighter Anthony “Tony” Duivenvoorde, 62, of the Sussex Fire Department, suffered a fatal heart attack after responding to multiple calls on 4/12/2023.
- Firefighter Jeff M. Pfeiffer, 66, of the Deptford Fire Department, passed away due to a heart attack on 3/24/23, after responding to a call.
- Fire Chief Timothy Pfleger, 32, of the Keyport Fire Department, succumbed to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash on 9/30/2022.
- Fire Chief Edward “Eddie” Steines, 64, of the West Milford Fire Department, suffered a fatal heart attack on 8/16/23, after returning home from a call.
The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend is a solemn occasion to remember and honor the bravery, commitment, and sacrifices of these heroes and their families.
“National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend is a time for our nation to pause and reflect on the heroic efforts and selfless service of the fallen firefighters we are paying tribute to this year,” said NFFF CEO Victor Stagnaro. “We will always remember the bravery, commitment, and sacrifices of each of these 226 heroes—and their families.”
The public is invited to attend two events at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park on the grounds of the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) during Memorial Weekend:
- National Fallen Firefighters Candlelight Service: May 4 at 7:30 pm ET, hosted by Fire Captain Garon Mosby of the St. Louis Fire Department.
- National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service: May 5 at 10:00 am ET, hosted by actor Jeremy Holm.
Fire service and government leaders will address the attendees at the Memorial Service on Sunday, May 5. Both events will be live-streamed on the NFFF’s website, YouTube channel, and Facebook page.
Additionally, there are exclusive events during Memorial Weekend for the families and fire departments of honored firefighters, including small group sessions and activities throughout Friday and Saturday.
Schedule:
Saturday, May 4, 2024
- Candlelight Service
- Time: 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm ET
- Streaming begins at 7:00 pm ET
Sunday, May 5, 2024
- Memorial Service
- Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET
- Streaming begins at 9:30 am ET
Photos by Bill Rowe for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
