This weekend we will be joining with Fire Departments around the country as we pause to commemorate National Fallen Firefighters weekend (October 6 & 7). We will be lowering our flag on Sunday as we honor the 80 firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice in 2017 and all those who have given their lives in the past. At 10:00 a.m. on Sunday a National Memorial Service will take place at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland, at that time we will join with other fire departments and places of worship in ringing our bells. Bells have a long tradition in the fire service. They are rung to alert firefighters of a call, to clear the way for responding apparatus (especially prior to sirens), to announce the return to the station and to announce the passing of a firefighter. They are often rung at a firefighter’s funeral to signify that he or she has answered their final call.

We thank the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches in Kingston for joining us in this tribute.