National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial Weekend May 4-5; 17 fallen Ohio firefighters to be honored

EMMITSBURG, Md. – The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) will host the 43rd National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend on May 4-5 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. This year’s national tribute will honor 89 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2023 and 137 firefighters who died in previous years. The honorees will include the following Ohio firefighters:

Firefighter/EMT Gregory Lee Bauer, age 56, of the Columbus Division of Fire, died on 10/18/2021 due to complications of COVID-19. 

Firefighter/Paramedic Seamus Culligan, age 44, of the Willoughby Fire Department, died on 2/15/2022 due to complications of brain cancer, deemed by the State of Ohio to be a line of duty death. 

Safety Officer Kevin Dailey, age 72, of the Middleport Fire Department, was returning from a fire call when the fire apparatus he was driving rolled over the side of a hill and crashed.  He was pinned under the truck and was extricated by other firefighters returning from the same call who used airbags to lift and pull him out. He was flown to the hospital where he underwent surgery on 9/19/2022.  He remained in the hospital until his death on 1/24/2023.

Captain Charles "Chuck" Gossard, age 54, of the Springfield Township Fire & EMS Department, died on 3/16/22, due to complications of cancer, deemed by the State of Ohio to be a line-of-duty death.

Captain Hal Hanenkrath, age 40, of the South Richland Fire Department, was on the scene of a structure fire on 6/27/23,when he started experiencing shortness of breath and chest pains. He was immediately treated at the scene then rushed to the local hospital where he passed a short time later from a pulmonary embolism.

Fire Chief David Jarvis III, age 65, of the Columbus Division of Fire, died on 12/9/2021 due to complications of COVID-19.

Firefighter/Paramedic Edward Long, age 55, of the Portsmouth Fire Department, responded to a request for assistance from a citizen for a vehicle lock out for a tractor trailer on 3/22/22. He had to utilize a ladder from Engine 2 to gain access to the vehicle. After unlocking the cab of the truck, he placed the ladder back on Engine 2 and cleared the scene. While en route back to the station Firefighter/Engineer Long stopped at a stop sign, and advised the officer in charge of the engine that he didn't feel well. He then proceeded to set the parking brake on the engine after which he became unresponsive. Crews from the station responded immediately. Firefighter/EMT Long was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later due to sudden cardiac arrest.

Firefighter/EMT Dennis McCollum, age 62, of the Kalida Volunteer Fire Department, died on 12/22/22, due to a heart attack within 24 hours of participating in training at the fire station. 

Firefighter Randy Miner, age 57, of the Mary Ann Township Fire Department, died on 9/26/2021 due to complications of COVID-19.

Fire Chief Ralph Nunley, age 41, of the Bloom Township Fire Department, died on 3/23/2022 due to the complications of colorectal cancer, deemed by the State of Ohio to be a line of duty death. 

Lieutenant Kenneth Pettit, age 60, of the Allen-Clay Joint Fire District, died on 11/13/2022 due to complications of cancer, deemed by the State of Ohio to be a line of duty death.

Captain Matthew Reid, age 48, of the Fletcher Volunteer Fire Department, died on 10/18/21 due to complications of COVID-19.

Lieutenant Charles Swank , age 39, of the Washington Township Fire Department, died due to a heart attack on 12/8/2022, within 24 hours of participating in department-mandated training at a High Rise Operations Conference in Pensacola, FL.

Firefighter James Tansey, age 72, of the Wakeman Fire District, died on 1/24/2021 due to complications of COVID-19.

Firefighter Sean Tyler, age 37, of the Tiffin Fire/Rescue Division, died on 6/20/2022 due to complications of cancer.

Firefighter/Paramedic Brett Wilson, age 23, of the Columbia Township Fire Department, was authorized to respond to a motor vehicle accident near his residence on 10/27/2019. As he entered the road, a loose electrical line fell. He was transported to a medical facility where he was pronounced deceased due to electrocution.

Firefighter/Paramedic Robert Wysong, age 70, of the Clinton-Warren Joint Fire and Rescue District, responded to a brush fire on 12/24/2023. He returned home after the call and later that evening, his wife found him unresponsive. He was immediately transported to a local hospital and then airlifted to Miami Valley (OH) Hospital where he died due to a heart attack 12/26/23.

Detailed information about each of the 226 firefighters being memorialized can be found on the 2024 Roll of Honor.

“National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend is a time for our nation to pause and reflect on the heroic efforts and selfless service of the fallen firefighters we are paying tribute to this year,” said NFFF CEO Victor Stagnaro. “We will always remember the bravery, commitment, and sacrifices of each of these 226 heroes—and their families.”  

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

The National Fallen Firefighters Candlelight Service is on May 4 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 5 at 10 a.m. ET and will be hosted by actor Jeremy Holm.

Fire service and government leaders are scheduled to address the thousands of attendees at the Memorial Service on Sunday, May 5. The NFFF will live stream both events on the NFFF’s website (firehero.org), YouTube channel, and Facebook page.

There are additional 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.
 
Schedule
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Candlelight Service 
Time: 7:30-9 p.m. ET 
Streaming begins at 7 p.m. ET

Sunday, May 5, 2024
Memorial Service
Time: 10 a.m.-noon ET
Streaming begins at 9:30 a.m. ET

The NFFF will provide live satellite feeds of both events. Technical support is being provided by VISTA Worldlink, Comcast Beltway, and INTELSAT. Satellite coordinates can be found at live.firehero.org. 

Location
National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park
National Emergency Training Center (NETC)
16835 S. Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, Md. 21727

Related story:  https://highlandcountypress.com/news/wysong-among-226-firefighters-be-r…