Thousands of family members came out on Sunday, October 6 to honor and remember their loved ones at the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation's annual National Memorial Service, held this year at the MCI Center in Washington DC. Families came from all over the country for the Memorial Weekend. Retired FDNY firefighter Sam Cannizzaro came in memory of his son Brian of FDNY Ladder 101, who died on 9/11. "It was really great," he said. "It was uplifting, and it was sad, and it brought back a lot of the memories." Cannizzaro said it was a great ceremony and that his family appreciates everything people have done. But it was painful to go through, he said. "We see this everyday in New York. How many times can you watch your son die?" Cannizzaro said his younger son Craig is about to graduate from FDNY's fire academy. "I really have mixed emotions," he said. "I gave one, I don't want to give two." For Pat Egan who lost her FDNY firefighter son Martin, it was all lovely, but sad. "We knew the truth about why we were coming," she said. "I've wanted to come back to Washington for a long time, but not for this." Arnie Roma, who lost his son Keith, a New York Fire Patrol Officer, at the World Trade Center, said the service evoked every emotion he had. "One moment I was crying and the next I would be clapping for joy," he said. Peter Matthews/Firehouse.com On the street before the ceremony, Heather Fussell wiped a tear from her eye as the buses of family members headed toward the MCI Center. With her young son she waited for her husband to pass in the procession as a member of the Anchorage, Alaska Fire Department Honor Guard. This happens to her often, she said, when she thinks about this brotherhood. "They are so selfless, willing to do whatever it takes. It is such a family," she said. Sheila and Mort Winestock came to the parade to support family friends from Utah who were staying with them for the weekend memorial. They came out not only to support them, but to support all of the people who Mort said are sometimes taken for granted. "I came out because I think it's important," he said. Chauncey Bowers/PGFD for Firehouse.com Kim Bailey, right, lost her father Clarence Kreitzer on September 24, 2001. He responded to the University of Maryland after a tornado touched down on campus. Kreitzer was a life member of the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department in Maryland. He served for over 64 years. "My husband's a firefighter and I'm here supporting him and all they do for us," said Jane Mcdonnell, whose husband is with the Indianapolis Fire Department in Indiana. Robin Moore of California has come to the Memorial Weekend for the past few years, once when her husband was honored, and again because she also feels the need to support the bravery of firefighters. She attended the service at the MCI Center and was pleased with it. "The service was a tremendous tribute," she said. "I thought it was beautiful, " said Karen Esposito of Staten Island, NY, of the service. "It's unfortunate like the others, depressing, but you know it's for a good thing." Her husband, Joe Esposito is with FDNY's Fire Rescue 5. His firehouse lost 13 members on Sept. 11, and he lost a brother and a cousin. Karen said that her family will also be at the service planned for next week in New York. Lon Slepicka/Firehouse.com A family member of one of fallen firefighters of 2001 looks out her bus window at the thousands of firefighters lining the streets of Washington in the Sea of Blue, displaying a photo of her hero lost. Family members and friends of fallen firefighters were not the only people who lined 7th street during the march. Barbara Johnson just happened to live in the neighborhood and had no idea the memorial parade was going on. She stopped and was very moved by what she saw, which she said was a great coming together of so many people from all over the country. She said, "It's true that the new American hero is the firefighter." Cheryl Epps, a former New York prosecutor also watched the procession up to the service at the MCI Center. She said that a big part of her job in New York had involved working with firefighters and police officers and that the events of September 11 had hit her hard. Peter Matthews/Firehouse.com "I wanted to come down and pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attacks," she said. Richard Cline, who is originally from St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, but now lives in Fayetteville, NC, came to the memorial weekend for the first time this year. He also had nice things to say about the memorial service and said he felt inspired by it. "I enjoyed myself, it motivated me to push on to become a certified firefighter," he said. Deborah Newcomb, also of Faytteville, NC mirrored Cline's comments on the service. "It was wonderful and over powering," she said, "A great tribute to the firefighters who died." "This will be the last [of the services] and most of the families can finally start to move forward," said FDNY Battalion Chief Joseph Downey, son of decorated Battalion Chief Raymond Downey, who was lost September 11th. Downey said 20 of his family members came to the service. "It's been a long, tough year," he said. "Ceremonies are nice and the families appreciate the support and love, but they can take a lot out of you."

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