The Seattle Fire Department will gather on Friday, October 2 at 9 a.m. in Occidental Park to honor more than 100 firefighters from the United States and Canada who died in the line of duty in the past year. The local ceremony coincides with the 28th Annual National Fallen Firefighter Memorial weekend held at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. On this weekend, firefighters from around the country pay tribute to those courageous firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The event will take place in front of the Seattle Fallen Firefighters Memorial, which pays tribute to all 37 firefighters who have died in the line of duty since the Department began in 1889. The memorial was inspired by the four Seattle Firefighters who died in the 1995 Mary Pang Warehouse Fire.
Rich in firefighter tradition, the ceremony will begin and end with the presentation of colors by the Walter Kilgore Memorial Honor Guard. The Seattle Firefighters Pipes and Drums band will play several musical selections and Seattle Fire Chief Gregory Dean will speak, along with Local 27 President Kenny Stuart and Fire Department Chaplain Joel Ingebritson. The public is welcome to attend the ceremony.