Beyond the Flames — Many Firefighters Killed in the Line of Duty Are Volunteers

With the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in New York City, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., you’ll be sure to hear mention of the 343 FDNY firefighters who were killed at the World Trade Center. Over 100 firefighters are killed in the line of duty each year in the United States, and the mention of their heroics is easily found on local news networks and other forms of media.
But what about the families of the men and women killed in the line of duty? Many of these firefighters each year are volunteers, leaving their families with little pension to collect, if any, especially compared to those who die working professionally.
In 1992, the United States Congress decided it was time to create an organization that did just that – honor the firefighters while helping those left to carry on after a firefighter line of duty death. Congress created the National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation, a non-profit group whose mission is to provide guidance and support to the families and co-workers of those killed, as well as recognize the ultimate sacrifice made by these men and women.
Congress charged the foundation with several important tasks as part of its mission statement when it was created in 1992. One of its first tasks was to form a support program and network of counselors to help families and departments deal with line-of-duty deaths. One of the first steps in the The National Fallen Firefighter’s Chapel is another key piece of the park.
Located just a small walk away from the monument, the Chapel has actually been on the site since the early 1800’s, and was dedicated to the NFFF in 1997 in honor of the late Chief A. Marvin Gibbons, who played an integral part in the completion of the project. The chapel plays host for many services, both public and private, in honor of fallen firefighters.
The third part of the Memorial park is the “Walk of Honor,” a walkway with inscribed bricks which connect the Firefighter’s Memorial to the Chapel. Each brick is sponsored by a donor, and has a short message inscribed on it. Currently, over 8,000 bricks on the path have inscriptions, with room for about 13,000 more.
The fourth and final piece of the park is one of the newest editions, as statue known as “To Lift a Nation.” The 40-foot-high statue depicts the now famous photograph of three FDNY firefighters raising the American flag over Ground Zero following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The bronze statue, weighing approximately eight tons, is a symbol of “hope and courage for our nation that was deeply affected by the tragedies of 9/11,” according to a statement on the foundations website.
The NFFF’s biggest event of the year normally comes in October, when they host the NFFF Memorial Weekend at the Foundation’s headquarters in Maryland. On this weekend, the families of fallen firefighters from the previous year, as well as past families and fire service friends, gather at the site for a weekend of grieving, remembering, and honoring the fallen. They hold special memorial services, host grief counselors, and offer several courses to help make the pain of losing a loved one just a bit easier. Through the donations of many, the NFFF provides lodging and meal expenses for immediate surviving family members that wish to attend the event.
In addition to their functions with helping family members and fellow firefighters deal with line of duty deaths, the NFFF has also initiated programs to lower the number of deaths seen each year. In conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security, the NFFF sponsors the “Everyone Goes Home” program, a program with the goal of minimizing the number of deaths or injuries caused to firefighters while performing their duties. The program has a 16-point outline of items that are addressed in an effort to lower the risks to firefighters.
The National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation is a great resource for the fire service, and in a valuable asset in the quest for eliminating firefighter fatalities. The foundation is a non-profit one, and gladly accepts donations to help operate. If you’d like to find out more about the foundation, or would like to make a donation, visit them online at www.firehero.org .
Knoll, 19, of Eldora, can be contacted by email at bknolljr4cmcherald@yahoo.com. He is a student at Rowan University.