EMMITSBURG, MD – The 31st Annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service will honor four Florida firefighters who died in the line of duty. They are among the 80 firefighters who died in 2011 and five firefighters who died in previous years who will be remembered at the official national service held at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland on Sunday, October 7.
Firefighter Joshua O. Burch, age 31, of the Florida Forest Service died from burns sustained when he and another firefighter were overrun by fire while operating at the Blue Rib bon Forest Fire on June 20, 2011.
Forest Ranger/Firefighter Brett L. Fulton, age 52, of the Florida Forest Service died from burns sustained when he and another firefighter were overrun by fire while operating at the Blue Ribbon Forest Fire on June 20, 2011.
Firefighter Gregory Leon Harris, age 40, of the Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue Department suffered an aortic tear while pulling a hose line at a fire and later died on April 22, 2011.
Captain James L. von Roden, age 49, of the Lee Community Volunteer Fire Department died after collapsing while en route to a brush fire on March 12, 2011.
The names of those firefighters who died in the line of duty will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial on the Academy grounds. The national tribute is sponsored by the National Fallen Firefigh ters Foundation (NFFF) and the Department of Homeland Security.
More than 6,000 people, including Members of Congress, Administration officials and other dignitaries, members of the fire service, and families and friends of the fallen firefighters will attend the event. Families will receive flags flown over the U. S. Capitol and the National Memorial. Members of the fire service, honor guard units and pipe and drum units from across the U.S. will participate in this national tribute.
For a complete list of fallen firefighters being honored and a widget to display their information on your website, along with Memorial Weekend related videos, photos, media and broadcast information visit Weekend.Firehero.org.
