September 15, 2007 – Hundreds of fire fighters, family and friends from all across North America gathered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for the 21st Annual Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial September 15 to honor the memory of 114 IAFF members who made the ultimate sacrifice. Those remembered died between June 1, 2006, and June 1, 2007.

As a special honor to the fallen, a procession of fire apparatus and motorcycles, known as the "Ride to Remember," proceeded mourners to the memorial site in the shadow of Pike’s Peak. IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger presided over the ceremony.

During his address at the memorial, General President Schaitberger noted that carving the names of the fallen “in thick walls of black granite ensures that our family -- those that meant so much to us -- whose service, sacrifice, duty and commitment so others could live will never be erased.”

As president of a 281,000 strong union, Schaitberger admitted that he has not always had the privilege of personally knowing all of the fire fighters who die in the line of duty each year. But, this year was a little different.

photo taken by Bob Falcone, member of Pueblo, CO Local 3

“Our former 9th District Vice President, Michael D. McNeill, who died earlier this year after a long, gutsy battle with an occupational cancer -- who was a great man and a great patriot, was also a great fire fighter,” Schaitberger said. "He was, for those who loved and knew him, a real-life superhero, which I know is how those of you here today feel about yours on that glorious wall.” 

“It is up to us – for those whose names are now on that wall – to keep the meaning and value of their lives alive,” said Schaitberger. “We must make sure that they did not die in vain. We must use their loss to prevent other deaths from occurring.

“And leaving here today, in their name, each and every one of us must pledge to do all we can to protect our members lives -- whether it’s fighting to make sure our members have the best training, equipment and enough personnel to do their job safely or doing our part when they are on the job,” he resolved.

True to tradition, President Schaitberger laid the wreath in memory of the fallen. Pipes and drums were also played and a final bell was sounded for each of the names newly etched into the memorial wall. Families received an IAFF memorial flag in remembrance of their loved one’s sacrifice.

The mission of the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial is to honor the sacrifice made by professional fire fighters and paramedics who have given their lives in the line-of-duty. The organization also provides assistance to surviving families and serves as a public reminder of the risks fire fighters face every day.