ALBANY, NY (WRGB) — Fallen firefighters across New York were honored for their dedication and sacrifice Tuesday at the 28th annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony.
This year, 126 fighters were added to the memorial wall.
The ceremony is to pay tribute to fallen firefighters for their sacrifice and provide support to their families.
“The memorial includes a wall with the names of the fallen and a statue of three firefighters, two determined to pull a third injured brother away from the wall. Their effort to keep his name from joining the names of the fallen heroes memorialized there,” said James Cable, State Fire Administrator. “Which symbolically and powerfully reflects our collective commitment to work toward and look forward to a day when we have no new names to add to the wall.”
Three firefighters from the Capital Region were added to the wall today.
Former Troy Fire Chief Patrick Byron, who died in 1918; Slingerlands Fire Department Safety Officer Walter Eck, who died in 2021; and Steven Harris, a firefighter for the Fort Johnson Volunteer Fire Company, died in 2023.
The Governor also issued two proclamations to honor New York State’s career and volunteer firefighters. One proclamation declared Oct. 7, 2025, as Firefighter Appreciation Day, and the other declared the week of Oct. 6-10, 2025, as Fire Prevention Week in New York State.