Fire truck racing to the emergency scene. File photo — Fire truck racing to the emergency scene. File Photo

EMMITSBURG, MD – The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) is set to host the 43rd National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend on May 4-5. This year, the ceremony will honor 89 firefighters who perished in 2023 and 137 from previous years, totaling 226 fallen heroes. The memorial, held at the National Emergency Training Center, will include tributes to six New Jersey firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Among the honorees are Captain Augusto Acabou and Captain Wayne Brooks Jr. of the Newark Fire Department, who died in a fire on July 5, 2023, aboard the Grande Costa D’Avorio Cargo Ship. Firefighter Anthony “Tony” Duivenvoorde of the Sussex Fire Department passed away from a heart attack on April 12, 2023, after responding to multiple emergency calls. Firefighter Jeff M. Pfeiffer of the Deptford Fire Department succumbed to a heart attack on March 24, 2023, after falling ill on duty. Fire Chief Timothy Pfleger of the Keyport Fire Department died following complications from a vehicular accident on July 16, 2022. Lastly, Fire Chief Edward “Eddie” Steines of the West Milford Fire Department died of a heart attack on August 16, 2023, after attending to multiple emergencies.

The Memorial Weekend will feature a Candlelight Service on May 4 at 7:30 PM, hosted by Fire Captain Garon Mosby, and a Memorial Service on May 5 at 10:00 AM, hosted by actor Jeremy Holm. Both events will be live-streamed on the NFFF’s official website and social media platforms.

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