The North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NCFFF) would like to invite your department to take part in the 3rd Annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial Parade. The parade will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2008 in Raleigh. The parade will start at 10:00 am and last approximately two hours. After the parade, we will hold the 3rd Annual Memorial Service for 2007 line of duty deaths (LODD) starting at 1:00pm. The parade is 7/10ths of a mile and will begin at Hillsborough Street and St. Mary’s Street, then proceed down Hillsborough Street to Dawson Street, turning right on Dawson Street and ending at Martin Street. The Departments that have suffered an LODD in 2007 will lead the parade. Returning departments with past LODDs will line up first come first in line format. Only departments that have had a Line of Duty Death are being invited to have a piece of fire apparatus in the parade.  Each department that is invited may have one piece of fire apparatus.

Please fill out the parade application enclosed or go to the web site www.NCFFF.org and down load an application. It may be e-mailed to me at jrehbock@nc.rr.com or mailed to address below.

Closing date for the parade is April 25, 2008

2007 LODD Departments will receive either an e-mail or phone call with information on your line-up number. A map with directions to the parade line-up is enclosed.

Parade Rules

1. Only departments that have had a line of duty death may enter a fire apparatus in the parade.
2. All personal on the fire apparatus MUST be seated and wear a seat belt at all times. Antique fire apparatus that have no seat belt are exempt.
3. No AIR Horns or Siren.
4. No throwing of candy from the trucks.
5. No black bunting on the fire apparatus.
6. The parade starts at 10:00am.
7. The parade line up starts at 8:00am. (Line up begins at Hillsborough and Morgan Streets – Please follow directions below.)
8. Units should in line by 9:45am.
   
9. Honor Guard units can drop off members and take their vehicles to the after parade parking. The NCFFF van will help to transport members back to the starting point of the parade.
10. Units that will be leaving to return to their territory after the parade will be given a colored card to place in the windshield so at the end of the parade (Dawson Street and Martin Street), you will be sent down Dawson Street so you may return to your territory and back in service.
11. Bands/Honor Guard should line up on St. Mary’s Street between Hillsborough Street and West Jones Street.

Directions to Staging

From West I-40
Go East on I -40 to Exit 290. Hwy 54 is at the top of the ramp. Turn left onto NC Hwy 54 (Chapel Hill Road) go 1.8 miles to the street light at Hillsborough Street.  Turn Left onto Hillsborough Street. Stay on Hillsborough Street past State Fair grounds. Go under the Raleigh Beltline (I 440). Travel past North Carolina State University to the start of the parade. Line up at Hillsborough Street and Morgan Street. 

From South West US 1 and 64
Take US 1 and 64 to the Raleigh Beltline (I-440).  Take Exit 3. At the end of the ramp, turn left onto Hillsborough Street.  Travel past North Carolina State University to the start of the parade. Line up at Hillsborough Street and Morgan Street. 

From The South
Take I-40 west to South Saunders Street (Exit 298). Turn right at the bottom of the ramp onto South Saunders Street. Take South Saunders Street to Western Boulevard. Turn left at the light onto Western Boulevard and travel past Central Prison. Turn right onto Ashe Avenue. From Ashe Avenue, turn right onto Hillsborough Street. Go one block to the parade line up at Hillsborough Street and Morgan Street. 

From The East NC 64 or NC 64 bypass
Take NC 64 to the Beltline (I-440 & I-40 Inner Loop) to South Saunders Street (Exit 298). Turn right at the bottom of the ramp onto South Saunders Street. Travel to Western Boulevard. Turn left at the light onto Western Boulevard and travel past Central Prison. Turn right onto Ashe Avenue. From Ashe Avenue, turn right onto Hillsborough Street. Go one block to the parade line up at Hillsborough Street and Morgan Street. 

From The North East On Capital Blvd.
Take Capital Boulevard into Raleigh. Cross over the Beltline (I-40& I-440) to Wade Avenue. Turn right onto Wade Avenue. Take the Oberlin Road Exit. At the top of the ramp, turn left on to Oberlin Road. Go past Fire Station 5. At the light you will turn left onto Hillsborough Street. Go three blocks to the parade line up at Hillsborough Street and Morgan Street. 

From The North on NC Hwy 50
Take Hwy 50 (Creedmoor Road) to Glenwood Avenue. Turn left on to Glenwood Avenue to the Raleigh Belt Line. Take I-440 West to Cary (outer loop) to Exit 3. At the end of the ramp, turn right onto Hillsborough Street. Pass under the beltline on Hillsborough Street.  Go past North Carolina State University to the start of the parade line up at Hillsborough Street and Morgan Street.