Dear Affiliate Leader:
With the significant health concerns related to COVID-19 and all of the restrictions across the U.S. and Canada, the IAFF Executive Board on May 14, 2020, approved a motion to conduct the 2020 Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial ceremony without attendees, broadcasting it as a respectful virtual ceremony on September 19, 2020. We will still be engraving members’ names on our Wall of Honor this year and will note those etched on our Memorial during the virtual ceremony.
All 2020 honoree families will be invited to attend the 2021 Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial where our fallen members will receive proper recognition along with those lost in 2020 at a traditional ceremony, with all families receiving their flag.
Like all of you, we are disappointed that we are unable to hold our memorable, beautiful ceremony, but the Board believes this is the safest and best path to ensure that we honor our fallen this year as best we can under the circumstances, guided by the information available to us today.
We will continue to provide updates on plans for the virtual ceremony.
Fraternally,
Harold A. Schaitberger
General President