Memorial Foundation Report
Welcome to the Foundation Report. For those unable to attend the 2023 services in October, a video for the candlelight and Sunday services are available to stream from our Memorial Facebook page: Fire Fighter Memorial Foundation of Missouri. We had to modify some of the audio from the Candlelight Service due to the Facebook Police Department. I mentioned this just in case you might wonder why the audio changed in some segments. We will make that adjustment for 2024.
If you have not seen our Facebook page, please check us out. We have 542 followers and counting. This reflects nearly 250 new followers who joined our page during 2023 and the Foundation would be honored if we could double that in 2024.
SAVE THE DATE: Memorial Services
As you are preparing your 2024 calendars, please consider joining us for the 2024 Memorial Services on Saturday, October 5th for the Candlelight Service and Sunday morning October 6th. Going forward, our annual services will be guided by the first Sunday in October with the Candlelight Service occurring the evening before. If you have any questions about the October services, please contact me at keith.smith1974@yahoo.com or 314-709-0760.
We will be honoring over 100 non-line-of-duty names in the 2024 services. This will include all names that we are made aware of from 2023 and any that were missed from 2022 or 2021. Not all of the line-of-duty names that have been submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) have been finalized and as of this article, several previous submissions are pending. I cannot even imagine the frustration these fallen hero families are having with this delayed process. Brian Zinanni continues to provide the most assistance possible and updates to the families as received. We will be honoring some LODD names in 2024, just not yet sure how many at this time.
Just in case you missed this in the last article, we have all new engraving forms. Please delete any electronic or paper copies you have if they are before October 2023. There is a new mailing and email address on the new forms. There is a revised processing procedure for the application(s) and payment. You can go to the website at ffam.org/memorial/ for all forms and updated information or contact me. Once on the website look to the lower right for Memorial Forms (Distinguished Service Wall) and Donation Forms (Brick Sponsor). You will also find the link for the memorial flags.
SAVE the DATE: BBQ
The Missouri Fire Service Charity Smoke-out BBQ will be held at the museum on Saturday, September 14th. Proceeds will be split 50/50 to the Missouri Firefighters Cancer Support Network and the Museum Project. In addition to a BBQ contest with bragging rights for another year, we hope to bring greater awareness to the memorial and the annual honors that are provided. More details to follow, but please consider a road trip on September 14th to sample several great BBQ options, visit your memorial, your future museum & education center, and support the ongoing battles against Fire Service Cancer.
I will wrap up with some great news that will be coming your way very soon. The Foundation has partnered with Travis Johnson to build a website specifically for the Foundation. We should have a domain name ready for your use by the next article. At the time of this writing, we have submitted some choices that would combine the name of the memorial and museum but have not received confirmation. More details and hopefully the fully completed project by the next article. I wish you and yours a blessed and safe new year.
Thank you for your time and continued support of your memorial and future museum.
FFAM
