National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Weekend Events will Take Place on NFA Campus

EMMITSBURG, MD -- The annual solemn tribute to the nation's fallen firefighters will be held May 2-3 on the campus of the National Fire Academy.

The announcement Monday afternoon of the location of the 45th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial weekend events was met with relief and gratitude from survivors. 

The partial government shutdown threatened the accessibilty of the stone memorial.

"Ecstatic!"

That's what Merrimack Fire Lt. Chris Wyman had to say upon hearing the event will take place in front of the National Fallen Firefighter Monument where a plaque has the name of his late wife, Nashua Fire Lt. Jess Wyman, who died of occupational cancer.

Wyman, who wrote to Congressional representatives to support making the memorial accessible to fallen firefighters' families, said the decision to open the grounds left him struggling for the right words.

"Awesome, just awesome," he said, adding that it's important that other survivors have the opportunity to visit the national memorial dedicated to their loved ones.

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation CEO Victor Stagnaro wrote in a statement after hearing that Congress and DHS made it happen: “Honoring America’s fallen firefighters is a national responsibility. We are thankful to everyone who helped make it possible for the fire service community and Fire Hero Families to come together in this sacred place during the partial government shutdown.”

“We are grateful that we will be able to gather at the National Memorial to honor these heroes and stand with their families. There is no more meaningful place to recognize their sacrifices and ensure their legacies are never forgotten.”

Nearly 1,000 family members of the 204 fallen firefighters to be recognized have registered to attend the events next month. Hundreds of fire and rescue personnel also are expected to make the trip to Maryland.

The access announcement came hours after a letter from nearly two dozen members of Congress -- dated April 20 -- urged DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to "ensure that the USFA campus and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial remain open and fully accessible to the families attending this year's National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend on May 2–3, 2026, and for all years in the future."

One of the legislators who spear-headed the effort, U.S. Representative April McClain Delaney (D-MD) said: "The families of fallen firefighters should not face uncertainty when honoring their loved ones. We owe these heroes — and their families — nothing less."