Oct. 5 CA Firefighters Memorial Ceremony In Sacramento Honors Heroes Who Paid The Ultimate Price

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As a record-breaking fire season continues to ravage California, hundreds of uniformed firefighters, family members and grateful citizens from throughout the state will take time on October 5^th in Sacramento to pay tribute to those firefighters who sacrificed their lives to protect the lives and property of Californians.

Continuing a solemn autumn tradition, the California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony will honor the memory of 22 California firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty. Their names will be inscribed on the California Firefighters Memorial, a stately monument located in historic Capitol Park, adjoining the California State Capitol in Sacramento.  The ceremony is being conducted by the California Fire Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides emotional and financial assistance to fallen firefighter families, firefighters and the communities they protect.

"These 22 individuals join more than 1,250 others who represent the best of our state and its people," said Lou Paulson, Chair of the California Fire Foundation. "In adding their names to this proud Memorial, we commit to their loved ones that we will always remember what they gave for our state."

The October 5^th ceremony begins at 11:30am, and features flag presentations to families, friends and representatives of the individuals being honored, as well as a solemn uniformed firefighter procession and the traditional "Last Alarm" bell ringing ceremony. Gov. Jerry Brown and other state leaders have been invited to attend, and California Attorney General Kamala Harris will participate in the ceremony. The public is also invited to attend.

Unveiled in April of 2002, the California Firefighters Memorial features two stunning statues and a dramatic Memorial Wall on which the names of more than 1,250 fallen firefighters are engraved. The Memorial was created, and continues to be maintained, without any state funding through private contributions to the California Fire Foundation, most of which came directly from firefighters themselves.

The California Fire Foundation (www.cafirefoundation.org) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) charitable organization created by California Professional Firefighters in 1987. Its mandate includes an array of survivor and victim assistance projects and public education initiatives, as well as direct services to the families of fallen firefighters.

EVENT DETAILS, PHOTOS, BACKGROUND INFO FOR MEDIA: http://bit.ly/18QB9VO

SOCIAL MEDIA: www.facebook.com/CaliforniaFireFoundation; @CAFireFound

MEDIA CONTACT:
Carroll Wills
Communications Director
California Fire Foundation
(916) 921-9111 (office); (916) 799-8148 (cell) 
[email protected]

SOURCE California Fire Foundation