Motorcycles and fire trucks traveled down Pikes Peak Road Saturday morning for the IAFF Ride of Honor, as crowds gathered to remember the 288 IAFF members who died in the line of duty.
General President Edward Kelly started the ceremony, reflecting on the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 and the 343 FDNY members and one NYC Fire Patrolman who responded that morning.
“It was the single greatest loss of fire fighters in recorded history. It was also the single greatest rescue effort ever performed,” Kelly said. “The story of fire fighters on 9/11 is as much about the lives saved as the lives lost.”
One of the 288 names honored Saturday was Deputy Chief James “Jim” Riches.
Riches joined the IAFF in 1977. His eldest son, Jimmy Jr., was among the 343 FDNY members killed in the attacks.
Riches later died from a WTC-related illness in 2025.
“Chief Riches died 10 months ago on Thanksgiving Day, made sick by the toxins that engulfed Lower Manhattan,” Kelly said. “Every one of those men and women gave the job everything they had.”
Kelly also recognized Coeur d’Alene, ID Local 710 Battalion Chief John Morrison Jr. and Kootenai County, ID Local 2856 Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, who were killed in an ambush while responding to a brushfire, along with Local 710 Fire Fighter/Engineer David Tysdal, who was injured in the same attack, was in attendance today.
“We honor their lives. Their service,” said Kelly. “And we honor you, because every one of those 288 members left behind families who loved them. You made sure they never carried the weight of this job alone, and our promise as this union, as their brothers and sisters, is to make sure you never carry the weight of that sacrifice alone.”
We honor their lives. Their service. And we honor you, because every one of those 288 members left behind families who loved them. You made sure they never carried the weight of this job alone, and our promise as this union, as their brothers and sisters, is to make sure you never carry the weight of that sacrifice alone.
General President Edward Kelly
A place for support
The support that families receive starts long before they arrive in Colorado Springs. Local 5 members and volunteers spend months preparing for the Memorial weekend.
“Every year I feel like our family creates a bigger family,” Colorado Springs Local 5’s Chris Weaver said.
Atlantic Provinces Professional Fire Fighters President Joe Triff is one of thousands who traveled to the Memorial to honor fallen members.
“It was important to come down and honor not just our members, but all the fallen fire fighters from across North America,” said Triff.
It was important to come down and honor not just our members, but all the fallen fire fighters from across North America.
atlantic provinces professional fire fighters president joe triff
Away from the ceremony, families gathered at the Family & Friends Gathering at Weidner Field, where children played games, families shared food and music, and therapy dogs offered a welcome break.
“They’re coming for a somber event,” said Lori Schlonski, with Go Team Therapy Dogs. “Especially the kids, it takes their minds off a little bit of what’s going on.”
For Phoenix, AZ Local 493 member Al Quintana, one name carried particular meaning.
He stood beside a sign honoring fallen Local 493 Capt. Anthony Mock, his colleague, who died from occupational cancer last year.
Quintana said the support from the IAFF, Local 5, and his own department back home shows the true Brotherhood in the IAFF when a member is lost.
“The help that we get here in Colorado Springs, as well as our own department back home, really shows what the Brotherhood is like,” Quintana said.
