Firefighters who have died in the line of duty will be remembered this weekend at a national event.
Five of the 229 firefighters honored are from North Carolina and two are local to the Greater Charlotte area.
Hosted by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the 43rd Memorial Weekend in Maryland includes a candlelight service and memorial service.
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“National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend is a time for our nation to pause and reflect on the heroic efforts and selfless service of the fallen firefighters we are honoring this year,” said Victor Stagnaro , CEO of the NFFF. “We will always remember the courage, commitment and sacrifices of each of these 226 heroes and their families. »
Ricky D. Allen was 36 when he died in the line of duty, working as an engineer for the Conover Fire Department. He started as a junior firefighter at age 17 and served for 19 years before dying in March 2023 from bile duct cancer resulting from his work.
James William Goudelock, 39 years old, joined the Fire Explorers program at the age of 15. He served for 24 years with the City of Dallas Fire Department, accumulating several “Firefighter of the Year” awards before becoming a captain. He died in 2022 from cancer related to his work as a firefighter.
Jeremy Klemm dedicated 15 years to the Durham Fire Department before passing away at age 45 in 2021. He died of complications from COVID. During his service, he was a driver and engineer.
Eddie Dewayne Fender served in numerous positions with the Asheville Fire Department before becoming a fire investigator. He died in 2022 at age 57 from pancreatic cancer resulting from the line of duty.
Larry J. Kye was 22 when he died during a winter storm in 1989. He worked for the North Carolina Forest Service. He was returning to the county seat after performing maintenance on firefighting equipment when his car slid and was hit head-on.
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