Colorado Fallen Firefighters Memorial

Hunter Evans Photo © / Evans Emergency Photography

On May 17th, 2025 the annual Colorado Fallen Firefighters Remembrance Ceremony was held to honor those who have died in the line of duty (LODD). The memorial began with the apparatus procession from the Addenbrooke Park in Lakewood into the Lakewood Town Center. The memorial ceremony was held inside the Lakewood Cultural Center with opening remarks from CFFF President John Bales, retired Fire Chief of the Golden Fire Department and then the processional from the Colorado Emerald Society Pipes & Drums and Colorado Fallen Firefighters Memorial Honor Guard with posting of colors. Guest speaker CFFF Director / West Metro Fire Rescue Fire Chief Don Lombardi and R.J. Fernandez with a special reading of a poem dedicated to the children of the fallen firefighters. CFFF Director / Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control Mike Morgan with the Governor’s proclamation. The bell ceremony with the bell ring by CFFF Director / Arvada Fire Protection District Bert Brooks. The closing remarks was from Jerry Rhodes, CFFF Director and the retired Assistant Fire Chief of South Metro Fire Rescue and Fire Chief of Cunningham Fire Rescue. The ceremony then proceeded to the outside of the Colorado Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Belmar Park with the honor guard pipes and drums, flag raising ceremony and the release of doves from Tom Loux of the White Birds Unlimited, honoring the 172 names on the wall with the the memorial.