Since the early days of the fire service, bells have been used as a way to summon firefighters to a station, communicate the type of emergency, or announce the end of a shift. When a firefighter died in the line of duty, a special sequence of five bells was tapped. The tolling of bells is still a tradition to honor the fallen during funerals and memorial services for firefighters.
You can be part of a national tradition to honor the memories of firefighters who died in the line of duty and show your support for their families. Join the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) in Bells Across America for Fallen Firefighters. This poignant tribute is part of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, October 6-7, 2018, in Emmitsburg, MD.
As the Memorial Service begins on Sunday, October 7, the bells at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Chapel will chime.