RALEIGH, NC - In response to the current public health crisis involving the COVID-19 Virus, the North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Foundation announces that the 15th Annual Memorial Service, scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2020 will be postponed effective immediately.

The postponement includes the following events:

- Survivor Family Dinner at Station 1, RFD (Private Event) (Friday, May 1, 2020)
- Candlelight Service at Nash Square, Raleigh (Friday, May 1, 2020)
- Fallen Firefighters Parade (Saturday, May 2, 2020, 10:00 am)
- Memorial Service, Nash Square, Raleigh (Saturday, May 2, 2020 1:00 pm)

The 15th Annual NCFFF Memorial Service is now scheduled to take place concurrently with the North Carolina State Firefighter’s Association (NCSFA) annual Conference and Convention held in August. The Conference and Convention is known as the South Atlantic FIRE RESCUE Expo (SAFRE) and is held August 12-15, 2020 at the Raleigh Convention Center, located at 500 South Salisbury Street.

(See www.safre.mobi for schedule and other details)

“Given the uncertain circumstances regarding public gatherings in the foreseeable future, the NCFFF is planning to conduct the 15th Annual Memorial Service during SAFRE in Raleigh this coming August,” according to NCFFF Public Information Officer Jeff Harkey. “In addition to the Annual Memorial Service to be held on Friday, August 14, the NCFFF will also be participating in the NCSFA Memorial Service on Thursday, August 13. It is important to note that these two events will take place on different days at specific venues.”

PRELIMINARY REVISED SCHEDULE FOR AUGUST 2020

- THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2020

2020 NCSFA Annual Memorial Service (Recognition of NCSFA members that died from July 1, 2019 until June 30, 2020)
Raleigh Convention Center, Ballroom C, from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Candlelight Service, Nash Square, Raleigh. 8:00 pm (Open to the Public)

- FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2020

15th Annual NCFFF Memorial Service – Survivor Family Dinner (2020 Honoree Families)
Raleigh Holiday Inn Downtown, 320 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh
5:00 pm (Private Event)
Current inductees and prior survivor families are invited.

15th Annual NCFFF Memorial Service (2020 LODD Honorees)
Nash Square, NCFFF Memorial
Dawson and Hargett Streets, Raleigh
Time: Immediately following Family Dinner (Open to the Public)

Red Helmet Ride (tentative)

- SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2020

NCFFF Memorial Stair Climb (New Event)
BB&T Tower
434 Fayetteville Street (across from the Raleigh Convention Center)
7:00 am – 9:00 am
Registration information is available at www.safre.mobi
This is a fund raising event for the NCFFF.

The following events will not take place in 2020:

Fallen Firefighters Parade (typically held Saturday morning in May)

2020 LODD HONOREES
The following individuals will be honored on Friday, August 14:

04/10/1880 William Ellerbrock, Wilmington FD
06/17/1893 Joseph B. Willard, Wilmington Hook and Ladder
11/26/1946 Frank W. Bennett, Durham FD
08/18/1964 George W. House, Sr., Asheville FD
07/04/2018 Michael Goodnight, West Liberty FD
12/18/2018 David Wayne Page, Durham FD
01/31/2019 Karen Shuart, Asheville FD
03/07/2019 Wayne R. Mason, Tri-Beach FD
05/30/2019 Dennis Ebersole, Kure Beach FD
08/29/2019 Keith Tessinear, Raleigh FD
09/20/2019 Claud Messer, Jonathan Creek VFD

For general inquiries about the new schedule, please contact any of the following:

Rick Fleming, NCFFF President at firedoc127@yahoo.com
Kathy Weatherspoon, NCFFF Secretary at kathy.weatherspoon@gmail.com
Jeff Harkey, NCFFF PIO at cfp700@carolinasfirepage.com

PDF Version of News Release March 25, 2020
NCFFF-Press-Release_20200325e