Ripley’s Lt. Wayne Bingaman among 144 individuals to be honored at National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) will host the 42nd National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend (Memorial Weekend) May 6-7 in Emmitsburg, Md. This year’s national tribute will honor 79 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2022 and 65 firefighters who died in previous years.

Each firefighter's name will be inscribed on a bronze plaque and become a permanent part of the National Memorial in honor of their sacrifices.

Lieutenant Wayne Bingaman, 60, of the Ripley Fire Department, died Aug. 14, 2022 due to complications of pancreatic cancer, deemed by the state of Ohio to be a line-of-duty death.

Wayne Bruce Bingaman was born to the late Robert and Opal Bingaman on July 3, 1962. The youngest of four siblings, growing up he played baseball and was active in 4-H. He developed a love for the fire service at a young age and became a cadet at age 14, riding his bicycle to the station in Mt. Orab, where he grew up.

His love for the fire service was not the only love he had for serving his community, which was a passion that became more evident throughout his life. Bingaman dedicated his life to the fire service, completing 45 years before his passing on August 14, 2022. He was serving as a lieutenant when he passed. Additionally, he was an EMT and ended his EMS career at the Ripley Life Squad.

Bingaman started his career in law enforcement and retired after 25 years of service. During his law enforcement career, his fire career shined through in his work as an evidence technician. He was certified by the DEA to disassemble meth labs, helping to battle the drug addiction epidemic that was consuming Brown County.

Bingaman left this earthly world as a larger-than-life mentor and servant. As he said many times, “The best thing us old firefighters can do is teach these young ones how to become old ones.” Never stop learning, take care of your gear, and always be prepared. Keep your pockets full of equipment. Bingaman was committed to serving his community day in and day out, never missing a beat when duty called. He was and will always be a true hero to his community and his family.

The honorees will also include the following Ohio firefighters:

Firefighter/Paramedic Tracy Leach, 52, of the Kettering Fire Department, died Dec. 24, 2022, due to complications of metastatic breast cancer, deemed by the state of Ohio as a line-of-duty death.

Lieutenant James Pero, 63, of the Mentor Fire Department, died June 13, 2021 due to complications of glioblastoma, deemed by the state of Ohio to be a line-of-duty death.

Lieutenant Ronald Reinhart, 63, of the Defiance Fire and Rescue Division, died Nov. 28, 2020, due to complications of pancreatic cancer, deemed by the State of Ohio to be in the line of duty.

Firefighter Johnny Tetrick, 51, of the Cleveland Division of Fire, responded to a motor vehicle collision Nov. 19, 2022. While cleaning up debris from the accident, a vehicle drove around the emergency scene and struck Firefighter Tetrick. The driver of the vehicle that struck FF Tetrick initially fled the scene and was later arrested and charged with aggravated vehicular homicide and murder, among other charges.

Lieutenant Philip Wigal, 35, of the Town & Country Fire District, responded to the scene of a motor vehicle accident April 11, 2022. While at the scene, a state trooper was performing an administrative inventory of the crash vehicle and Lt. Wigal was completing report documentation. While finishing these tasks, a southbound commercial vehicle struck the left rear of the fire apparatus, the patrol vehicle, and the vehicle involved in the initial crash. Lt. Wigal died at the scene.

Detailed information about the 144 firefighters being honored is included in the 2023 Roll of Honor at https://weekend.firehero.org/2023-roll-of-honor/.

There are two events open to the public at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park on the grounds of the National Emergency Training Center during Memorial Weekend.

• The National Fallen Firefighters Candlelight Service is on May 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be hosted by Fire Captain Garon Mosby of the St. Louis Fire Department.
•The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service is on May 7 at 10 a.m. ET and will be hosted by journalist Hillary Howard.

There are also events during Memorial Weekend provided exclusively for the families and fire departments of honored firefighters. These include small group sessions and other activities throughout Friday and Saturday; they are open to the families and coworkers of newly honored and previously honored firefighters. The weekend is a time for sharing, healing and commemorating each firefighter's commitment to public duty.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas is scheduled to address the thousands of attendees at the Memorial Service on Sunday, May 7. At the Memorial Service, the NFFF presents each family with an American flag that has flown over the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial and the U.S. Capitol, a badge, and a rose.

The NFFF will live stream both events on the NFFF’s website (firehero.org), YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Those not attending Memorial Weekend in person can also pay tribute to this year’s honored firefighters. The public can participate in Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters (May 4-7) by lighting their homes, businesses, landmarks or fire departments with red lights. Other ways to remember these firefighters include Bells Across America, Sound the Sirens and by signing the virtual Remembrance Banner.

In addition, the American flag will be lowered to half-staff on all federal buildings on Sunday, May 7. The public is also encouraged to lower their American flags that day to recognize the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Memorial Weekend is supported by individual and corporate donors, a grant from the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and in partnership with the U.S. Fire Administration, a component of the Department of Homeland Security.

The United States Congress created the NFFF to lead a nationwide effort to honor America's fallen firefighters. The mission is to honor America's fallen fire heroes; support their families, colleagues, and organizations; and work to reduce preventable firefighter death and injury. The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park includes the National Fallen Firefighters Monument, the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Chapel, a brick Walk of Honor, a September 11th memorial sculpture and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Bell of Remembrance. Information about the NFFF and the Memorial Park can be found at https://weekend.firehero.org.