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State Office of Fire Prevention and Control Announces 23rd Annual Fallen Firefighters Ceremony Will Be Held Virtually

State to engrave names of 21 fallen firefighters on Memorial Wall in 2020. Fallen firefighters memorialized in 2020 will also be honored at 2021 ceremony.

The New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control today announced the 23rd Annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony will be held virtually as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Occurring each October during Fire Prevention Week, the Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony honors those firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty and adds their names to the state's Fallen Firefighters Memorial Wall at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. This year, the names of 21 fallen firefighters will be added to the Memorial Wall.
 
“Each year, New York state's fire service community comes together to honor our brothers and sisters who have made the ultimate sacrifice in order to keep their communities safe,” said New York State Fire Administrator Francis “Skip” Nerney. “Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic will prevent us from holding our traditional ceremony this year. Nevertheless, we, like everyone else, will adapt to this new reality and ensure these heroes and their families get the recognition, respect, and gratitude they deserve.”
 
Dedicated in 1998, the New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial honors the state's fallen firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty. As of October 6, 2020, there will be 2,596 names on the wall. The earliest name on the wall dates back to 1811.
 
Each year during Fire Prevention Week (October 4-10), the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control holds the New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center. In 2020, the names of 21 fallen heroes will still be added to the Memorial Wall; however, given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a condensed version of the ceremony featuring State Fire staff conducting the traditional reading of names and other pieces of the ceremony will be made available on the Memorial's website. Additionally, the families of all 2020 honorees will be invited to attend the 24th Annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial in 2021, so their loved ones can be recognized at a traditional in-person ceremony as well.
 
As part of the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, the Office of Fire Prevention and Control delivers a wide breadth of services to firefighters, emergency responders, state and local government agencies, public and private colleges, and the citizens of New York. The office advances public safety through firefighter training, education, fire prevention, investigative, special operations and technical rescue programs. The delivery of these essential services enables the office to make significant contributions to the safety of all of New York state.
 
The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides leadership, coordination, and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats, fires, and other emergencies. For more information, visit the DHSES Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on Twitter, or Instagram.

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