The Capitol dome will be bathed in red tonight to honor fallen firefighters.
Coinciding with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s annual memorial weekend and Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters tribute, Gov. Mike Parson has ordered the dome to be lit red from sunset today to sunrise Sunday.
The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, hosted at the National Fire Academy in Maryland, honors firefighters who died while on duty in the previous year.
“We light the Capitol red to honor our fallen firefighters here in Missouri and across the nation who gave their lives in service to their communities. The sacrifices that firefighters everywhere make will never be forgotten,” Parson said. “As we see the challenges these brave men and women willingly endure to protect us, we must remember the importance of fire safety and commit to fire prevention.”
The Capitol dome lighting is also intended to bring attention to National Fire Prevention Week Oct. 3-9.
Additionally, the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri will host its 2021 memorial services Oct. 9-10 at the Fire Fighter Memorial in Kingdom City.
Services begin with a candlelight vigil at 8 p.m. next Saturday and continue with a memorial service in which the names of Missouri’s firefighters who died in 2020 will be added to the monument.
“We appreciate Gov. Parson lighting the Capitol red to honor our fallen firefighters who too often pay the ultimate price for taking on tremendous risks during fires, automobile crashes and countless emergencies,” State Fire Marshal Tim Bean said. “During National Fire Prevention Week, we urge all Missourians to learn more about fire safety and to teach all family members to know two ways out of every room in their house.”