The U.S. Fire Service on Sunday paid tribute to the lives of
75 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2016 and 20 firefighters who
died in previous years during the 36th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial
Service held in Emmitsburg, MD. It was 25 years ago that Congress passed
legislation creating the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) as the
only national organization to honor all fallen firefighters – career,
volunteer, military, wildland and contract – and to offer support to their
families. Blake Mayo, an Alfred Station firefighter, traveled to
Maryland to stand watch (shown in photo on left). In a Facebook post, Mayo said "Coming home after these details. Is a emotional time. Both of happiness for the families we get to see again and sadness for the fallen. I have said many times that when one of us dies, I feel like a part of us dies with them. THEY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN."
