| Members of the crowd at the Candlelight Service, part of the Memorial Weekend |
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced today that two of the major events taking place during the 2009 Memorial Weekend (October 3 - 4, 2009) will be available live via satellite and Internet, for easy viewing. The URL for this broadcast is http://mfile.akamai.com/22330/live/reflector:40154.asx?bkup=37484.
The broadcast is in the public domain and can be recorded for repurposing as desired. The fire service is encouraged to let their local media outlets know the availability of the broadcast.
In addition, the satellite coordinates for the National Candlelight Service (October 3) and the Memorial Service (October 4) are provided below. The Memorial Weekend will honor 103 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2008, and 19 firefighters who died in previous years.
The National Candlelight Service will feature musical selections by members of the fire service and survivors of fallen firefighters and a video tribute to 2008 fallen firefighters. Families of fallen firefighters will light luminary candles for each fallen firefighter. Luminaria decorated by the children attending Family Day will be displayed during the ceremony. As the ceremony closes, survivors of firefighters lost in previous years will light the remembrance candles, a symbol of the hope and enduring friendship shared by all who have lost a firefighter.
The Memorial Service will remember America's firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2008. Thousands of people are expected to attend and celebrate the lives of these firefighters. The ceremony will begin with an honor guard procession. Families receive American flags flown over the United States Capitol and the Emmitsburg monument. The tribute will conclude with the unveiling of the memorial plaque listing the names of the 2008 fallen firefighters and those honored from earlier years.
2009 National Fallen Firefighters Candlelight Service
- Saturday, October 3, 2009 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm (EST)
- Satellite feed begins at 5:30 pm (EST)
2009 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service
- Sunday, October 4, 2009 9:30 am - 12:30 pm (EST)
- Satellite feed begins at 9:00 am (EST)