CALIFORNIA FIRE FOUNDATION

REMEMBERING TOGETHER

“This heartfelt ceremony also reminds us that for every fallen hero, there is a family who has also paid the price – a price that we can never forget.”

- Brian K. Rice, CPF President

The Pipes and Drums of the CPF opening the California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony

String Quartet from the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera play “Largo” from the Double Concerto in D minor by Bach

Firefighters from across the state, lined up to present flags to the families of the fallen

Shauna McElroy receives the flag for her late husband, Branciforte Fire Captain Peder McElroy

Stacey Welton, wife of fallen Monrovia Firefighter Jerry G. Welton, receives the flag for her husband

The wife and daughter of fallen Riverside Firefighter Tim Strack, receiving the flag during the ceremony

Karen Ibarra receives the flag for her late husband, National City Fire Captain Roberto Medina, during the Ceremony

Sac Metro Engineer Tom Chen hugs Robin, the wife of Sac Metro Fire Captain Jeff Vitti

Honor Guard lined up for the procession to the Memorial Wall

The Pipes and Drums in the procession to the Memorial Wall

Lakeside Firefighter Anthony Cano’s daughter, Kennedy, creates a rubbing of her father's name etched onto the Memorial Wall

Friends and family gather at the Memorial Wall after the Ceremony

Firefighters take a moment to pay their respects to the fallen

Pasadena Firefighter makes a rubbing of a name etched onto the Memorial Wall

The 2023 California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony

The 21st annual California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony honored 35 firefighters who died in the line of duty. Their names were added to the more than 1,500 fellow fallen firefighters on the California Firefighters Memorial Wall in Sacramento’s Capitol Park.

Held on October 14, 2023, the ceremony was attended by more than 1,000 firefighters, family members and dignitaries, including Governor Gavin Newsom.

The tribute began at the Sheraton Grand in Sacramento and was followed by a moving evening procession to the California Firefighters Memorial on the grounds of the California State Capitol.

WATCH the 2023 California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony