National Fallen Firefighters Memorial

The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial is a tribute site in Maryland displaying granite walls inscribed with names of firefighters who died performing their duties. The grounds include a circular plaza with bronze statues and paved areas where visitors can pay their respects.

Congress established this site as the official National Memorial in 1990, creating a permanent tribute to firefighters who died throughout the United States. New names continue to be added from across the country each year.

The site draws families each May during Memorial Weekend for candlelight ceremonies honoring firefighters recently added to the walls. These gatherings form a meaningful way for the fire service community to mourn and remember those lost.

The grounds are open to visitors daily from sunrise to sunset with a parking area at Building V1 where security screening is required. Set aside time to read through the inscribed names and explore the different sections of the memorial.

The Walk of Honor features individually inscribed bricks for every firefighter who died before 1981 from each state. These early names form the foundation of the memorial and represent a lesser-known part of its history.