On Monday, November 14, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) was humbled to unveil Section 52 — the latest addition to the Walk of Honor®. This new span on the walkway was made possible by the Pepco Holdings, Inc. (PHI) Emergency Services Partnership Program.
As in-person and online visitors to National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park know, the Walk of Honor® is a path filled with tributes. It connects the National Fallen Firefighters Monument, the historic Memorial Chapel, and the 9/11 Memorial Plaza. While the plaques surrounding the iconic stone Monument list the names of all members of the fire service who have died in the line-of-duty since 1981, the Walk of Honor® —thanks to its 2019 expansion — honors every firefighter who died in the line of duty prior to 1981.
- Today, the Walk contains more than 20,000 inscribed bricks. Fire departments and organizations from across the country have created special sections to honor current members or those who have answered the final call.
- In the spirit of honor and remembrance, the new section—which includes a mix of inscribed bricks and engraved bronze plaques—honors ESPP’s founding partners and key stakeholders. It also memorializes the more than fifty in the PHI family who have been lost over the past century while doing their job.
“This is a proud and poignant day for all in the Pepco family,” said Vince Jacono, External Affairs Manager, Delmarva Power and a key driver of the ESPP initiative. “This specific partnership with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is another example of our company’s initiative to support those who keep us safe. We are honored to put our philanthropic efforts toward supporting the NFFF.”
We are honored to put our philanthropic efforts toward supporting the NFFF.
Vince Jacono, Delmarva Power
Through the years, the ESPP effort has built and expanded relationships with law enforcement, volunteer and career fire service personnel, and emergency managers under a unique community-oriented program. PHI’s original goal was to build a community presence that resonated with customers and focused on the overall commitment to safety. This made the collaboration with—and support of—the NFFF a natural fit. The Foundation works across the fire service to prevent line-of-duty deaths.
“The mission of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is to honor America’s fallen fire heroes; support their families, colleagues, and organizations; and work to reduce preventable firefighter death and injury,” said Chief Ron Siarnicki, NFFF’s Executive Director. “Without the support and commitment from our long-standing partners like PHI and the ESPP, it would be impossible for us accomplish our mission. In fact, Section 52 is a testimonial to PHI’s spirit of service as they work to ensure that structures, firefighters, and citizens are safe—while also supporting our efforts to remember the fallen heroes who are honored throughout Memorial Park.”
ESPP now occupies a permanent position in Section 52 on the Walk of Honor® at National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park—paying tribute to the fallen 52 weeks a year.
NFFF and ESPP: A Rich History
- The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial lithograph project.
- The “Electrical Safety for 1st Responders” DVD—a significant contribution to electrical safety awareness.