EMMITSBURG, MD -- The basketball court in Mount St. Mary's University's arena is filled with chairs while patriotic banners hang from railings and walls.
Everything is ready for the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service at 10 a.m. Sunday that will be streamed live
Thousands, including 1,200 family members, will be on hand as the names of 226 firefighters who died while serving their communities are called.
Rain forced organizers to move the ceremony from the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial site to the nearby campus.
On Saturday, families didn't let the rain stop them from visiting the memorial where a plaque with the names of their loved ones will be placed.
They took photographs and walked along the sidewalks made of bricks bearing the names of firefighters, organizations and groups.
National Fallen Firefighters Foundation CEO Victor Stagnaro said of the move: "It was a tough decision. But, it was the right one for the families especially with the amount of rain that's predicted."
Stagnaro said it's important that families be comfortable.
