BETHLEHEM, Pa. — New Tripoli firefighter Martin Gruber and Assistant Chief Zachary Paris, who gave the ultimate sacrifices in the line of duty, will be remembered by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation at its 42nd annual memorial weekend May 6-7 in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
The foundation will honor a total of 79 firefighters from 2022 and 65 firefighters who died in previous years.
- Fallen firefighters Martin Gruber and Zachary Paris will be honored by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
- Each man's name will be inscribed on a brass plaque
- Candlelight and memorial services will also be a part of the 42nd annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, May 6-7 in Emmitsburg, Maryland
Paris, 36, and Gruber, 59. died Wednesday, December 7, 2022, while responding to a three-alarm house fire at 1121 Clamtown Road in West Penn Township, Schuylkill County.
Firefighters from New Tripoli were among an estimated 100 called to the scene from a four-county area.
Authorities said Paris and Gruber were trapped in the blaze and eventually pulled from the burning building.
Both were pronounced dead at St. Luke's University Health Network's Miner's Campus in Coaldale.
Memorial dedicated to their sacrifice
The National Fallen Fighters Foundation inscribes each firefighter's name on a bronze plaque that becomes a permanent part of the national memorial dedicated to their sacrifices.
Additionally, a May 6 candlelight service and a May 7 memorial service will be at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg.
Members of the public who can't attend the services in person can honor the firefighters by lighting homes and businesses with red lights as part of Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters May 4-7 or by participating in Bells Across America, Sounds the Sirens or by signing the Remembrance Banner.
The National Fallen Fighters Foundation will livestream both events on the its website,firehero.org, YouTube channel and Facebook page.
