Flags Flown At Half-Staff For Firefighters

by KDLT News
October 07, 2012 1:58 PM


South Dakota officials say flags in the state will be flown at half-staff Sunday for the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.
 
President Barack Obama made the order to fly flags at half-staff from 8 a.m. until sunset.
 
The day is set aside each year to honor firefighters and emergency services personnel who have sacrificed their lives to save others.

The 31st Annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service will honor three South Dakota firefighters who died in the line of duty. They are among the 80 firefighters who died in 2011 and five firefighters who died in previous years who will be remembered at the official national service held at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland on Sunday, October 7.

Firefighter Trampus S Haskvitz, age 23, of the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, Division of Wildland Fire Suppression died of injuries sustained while fighting the Coal Canyon Fire on August 11, 2011.

Firefighter Jacob Paul Waldner, age 20, of the Sunset Fire Department and another firefighter died from injuries sustained at a rekindled coal bin fire on September 15, 2011.

Firefighter William George Waldner, age 22, of the Sunset Fire Department and another firefighter died from injuries sustained at a rekindled coal bin fire on September 15, 2011.

The names of those firefighters who died in the line of duty will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial on the Academy grounds. The national tribute is sponsored by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Department of Homeland Security.

More than 6,000 people, including Members of Congress, Administration officials and other dignitaries, members of the fire service, and families and friends of the fallen firefighters will attend the event. Families will receive flags flown over the U. S. Capitol and the National Memorial. Members of the fire service, honor guard units and pipe and drum units from across the U.S. will participate in this national tribute.