By Todd Karpovich
Baltimore Sun
EMMITSBURG, Md. — A federal funding lapse has forced the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial to close just weeks before hundreds of families are expected to gather in Maryland to honor loved ones who died in the line of duty.
The memorial, located on the campus of the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, is closed to the public because of the disruption affecting the Department of Homeland Security, according to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
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However, federal officials said the annual memorial events will still move forward.
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said it is making special arrangements to ensure the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend can proceed as scheduled May 2–3, despite the shutdown. While the campus will remain closed to the general public until funding is restored, the ceremonies themselves will be accommodated.
“We remain committed to honoring fallen firefighters and supporting their families,” the agency said.
Foundation CEO Victor Stagnaro said the timing of the closure is especially difficult as families prepare for the annual Memorial Weekend, when new names are added to the monument.
“In less than a month, the names of 204 fallen firefighters from 43 states will be added to that sacred monument in Emmitsburg,” Stagnaro said. “These families, who are grieving and have already made untold sacrifices, should be able to stand where their loved ones are recognized by our nation.”
The 45th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend is expected to draw relatives from across the country, many of whom may have limited access to the site outside of the scheduled ceremonies.
Congress established the memorial to ensure national recognition of firefighters who die in the line of duty. The foundation has urged federal leaders to resolve the funding issue and fully reopen the grounds as soon as possible.
“Families … should be able to visit the memorial,” Stagnaro said, adding that access to the grounds “matters deeply” to those making the trip.
The Emmitsburg campus also houses the United States Fire Administration and the National Fire Academy, both of which are affected by the closure.
Foundation officials said they remain committed to holding the Memorial Weekend events with “dignity and reverence,” even as broader public access to the grounds remains restricted.
The nonprofit, established by Congress in 1992, leads national efforts to honor fallen firefighters and support their families.
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Each year, the NFFF carries out a responsibility entrusted to it by Congress: honoring America’s fallen firefighters and standing alongside the families they leave behind. In 2026, that mission is at risk.
