Meridian Fire Department Chief Jeff Homan has visited Emmitsburg, Maryland many times.

Not only is Emmitsburg the home of the National Fire Academy but it is also the home of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial where beginning today the annual observance of those firefighters who have died while on duty begins. Homan describes the campus as hallowed ground for members of the fire service.

"What is striking is as you walk across the campus to go to and from class you can see the memorial and the American Flag flying," Homan said Friday. "Then one day you notice the flag is at half staff. That means a firefighter has died somewhere in the United States. It really drives home just how dangerous our job is and how quickly things can change."

On Sept. 11, 2001, 411 emergency workers who responded to the scene of the World Trade Center died as they attempted to implement rescue and fire suppression efforts. The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) lost 341 firefighters and 2 FDNY paramedics.

It is the largest single day loss of firefighters in this nation's history.

On Oct. 16 of that year, President George W. Bush approved legislation requiring the American Flag to be lowered to half-staff on all Federal buildings to memorialize fallen firefighters. This show of reverence for those men and women who run into burning buildings while everyone else is running out is in conjunction with the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.

Today marks the 27th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. A plaque with the names of 101 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2007 will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial located on the campus of the National Fire Academy. The plaques surrounding the Memorial, which was established in 1981, will contain the names of more than 3,200 firefighters.

"I knew some of the people whose names are on those plaques," Homan said. "I've sat across a dinner table from a few of the New York City firefighters who died during 9-11. That is why this weekend and September 11th are difficult times for me and many other firefighters."

Thirty-four states suffered line-of-duty deaths in 2007. South Carolina recorded the highest number of deaths among firefighters with 10, while Pennsylvania had eight, followed by North Carolina (8) and New York (7).

Chief Dennis Compton, Chairman of the NFF Board of Directors, said, "Each year members of the fire service, survivors of our fallen heroes, and other guests join together in Emmitsburg during the Memorial Weekend to honor those firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty. It is a time of dignity, respect, and reflection for our service, and an opportunity to extend our collective love and support to the survivors."

"When you join the fire service you immediately are part of a whole other family," Homan said. "This weekend is as much about the families of those firemen as it is about those men and women who've died in the line of duty."

The flags at all MFD fire stations, as will those at fire departments across the nation, will be at half-staff throughout the weekend. But the hearts and prayers of all firefighters will be in one place — Emmitsburg, Maryland.