Two Missouri fallen firefighters among those being honored on May 4-5, 2024
EMMITSBURG, Md. – The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) will host the 43rd National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend (Memorial Weekend) on May 4-5, 2024 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. This year’s national tribute will honor 89 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2023 and 137 firefighters who died in previous years. The honorees will include the following Missouri firefighters:
On June 25, 2023, Firefighter Lloyd Ruediger, age 84, of the New Haven-Berger Fire Protection District, responded to the scene of a residential fire. At approximately 10:30 p.m., he returned home. The next morning, June 25, 2023, he was found deceased at his residence from an apparent heart attack.
Captain Raymond Wynn, age 62, of the Kansas City Fire Department, died on March 27, 2021, due to complications of metastatic lung cancer, deemed by the State of Missouri to be a line-of-duty death.
Detailed information about each of the 226 firefighters being memorialized can be found on the 2024 Roll of Honor.
“National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend is a time for our nation to pause and reflect on the heroic efforts and selfless service of the fallen firefighters we are paying tribute to this year,” said NFFF CEO Victor Stagnaro. “We will always remember the bravery, commitment, and sacrifices of each of these 226 heroes—and their families.”
There are two events open to the public at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park on the grounds of the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) during Memorial Weekend.
- The National Fallen Firefighters Candlelight Serviceis on May 4 at 7:30 pm ET and will be hosted by Fire Captain Garon Mosby of the St. Louis Fire Department.
- The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Serviceis on May 5 at 10:00 am ET and will be hosted by actor Jeremy Holm.
Fire service and government leaders are scheduled to address the thousands of attendees at the Memorial Service on Sunday, May 5. The NFFF will live stream both events on the NFFF’s website (firehero.org), YouTube channel, and Facebook page.
There are additional events during Memorial Weekend provided exclusively for the families and fire departments of honored firefighters. These include small group sessions and other activities throughout Friday and Saturday; they are open to the families and coworkers of newly honored and previously honored firefighters.
Schedule
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Candlelight Service
Time: 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm ET
Streaming begins at 7:00 pm ET
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Memorial Service
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET
Streaming begins at 9:30 am ET
The NFFF will provide live satellite feeds of both events. Technical support is being provided by VISTA Worldlink, Comcast Beltway, and INTELSAT. Satellite coordinates can be found at live.firehero.org.