Firefighter's Memorial Weekend

This weekend, right before National Fire Protection Week, firefighters honor their fallen comrades. This is a picture of the US Fire Administration's National Fallen Firefighter's Memorial. It stands on the grounds of the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Flags all over the nation should be at half-mast today.

This ceremony will honor 105 fallen firefighters. The Fallen Firefighter's Foundation has a "Project Roll Call", to honor firefighters who fell before 1981.

In 2009, there were eighty-three fatalities. Around one hundred deaths per year occur for firefighters in the line of duty nationwide. This was a safer year, but still there are many names to remember, and many losses to grieve. These are their names. All of them left behind grieving family, friends, and comrades.

--Gary Stephens--John Myers--Kevin Kelley--Richard Rhea--

--Kyle Perkins--Cory Galloway--William Parsons--

--Mark Davis--Dean Mathison--Jeffrey Isbell--Albert Eberle, Jr.--

--Timothy Nicholas--Johnnie Hammons--John Adams--

--Derek North--"Freddy" Pierno--Charles Myshrall--

--Michael Darrington--Alan Hermel--Christopher Dill--

--William Vorwark--Gregory Cooke--Nolan Schmidt--Robert Strang--

--Mike Gilbreath--Robert France--Manny Rivera--

--George Wimberly--John Jeffers--John Weber--Heath Van Handel--

--Damion Hobbs--James Harlow--Charles Clough, Jr.--

--Dennis Simmons--Patrick Reardon--Brian Buss--

--Michael Flynn--Thomas Risk--Cohnway Johnson--

--Frankie Nelson--Stephen Cospelich--Paul Roberts--James Hall--

--Matthew Tramel--Jeffrey Read--Debra Cole--

--Conrad Mansfield--Lyle Lewis--Jimmy Cameron--William Thompson--

--Brett Stearns--Allan LePage--Dale Haddix--

--Robert Johnson--Ryan Wingard--David Grass, Jr.--

--Joseph Grace--Thomas Marovich--Eric Tinkham--

--"Jack" Horton--Paul Warhola--Jimmie Zeeks--David Jamsa--

--Jonathan Croom--"Chip" McCarthy--"Arnie" Quinones--

--"Ted" Hall--Kenneth Frizzell, Jr.--Richard Holst--Ricky Christiana--

Terry Sharon--Patrick Joyce--Carl Nordwall--

--Gary Street--John Thurman--Roy Westover, Jr.--

--Phil Whitney--Chad Greene--Robert Stone--

--Ramon Hain--Terrance Freeman--Walter Hessling--Gary Neidig, Jr.--

--Jimmy Davis, Sr.--Gregory Thompson, Jr.--Tommy Adams--

--Bobby Mullins--Craig Starr--Clair Pierce--

--Paul Holmes--Steve Koeser--Richard Miller--

These names can be found at the memorial page at the U.S. Fire Agency, Department of Homeland Security. By clicking upon their name, you can learn official information.

Thank you, firefighters and paramedics everywhere. I am so sorry for your many losses. Today I offer my condolences to the families and colleagues of fallen firefighters.

Photos from the DHS and Midwest Honor Guard .com.