5 fallen Florida firefighters will be honored this weekend. Here's who they are
This weekend, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation will honor 70 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2024. Five of them were from Florida.
The 44th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend will also honor 70 more firefighters who died in previous years.
'Each of these 140 firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others – a profound sacrifice that defines true heroism,' Victor Stagnaro, CEO of the NFFF said in a release. 'Memorial Weekend is a time for our nation to come together to honor their bravery, to stand beside their families, and ensure their legacy lives on in every community they so selflessly served.'
There will be two events open to the public at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland: a candlelight service on Saturday, May 3, and a memorial service on Sunday, May 4. Both events will be livestreamed.
Private events will be held for the families and fire departments of the honored firefighters, the NFFF said.
In 2001, then-President George W. Bush signed Public Law 107-51 requiring the U.S. flag to be flown at half-staff on all federal buildings to memorialize fallen firefighters each year, coinciding with the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.
"When you lower your flag this year, you will recognize the brave men and women who died protecting their communities from natural and manmade emergencies and disasters and those who carry on the proud tradition," the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation said.
As of April 30, President Trump has not yet issued a proclamation for 2025, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has not yet issued a proclamation ordering state flags to be lowered to half-staff. On April 25, DeSantis ordered flags to be flown at half-staff to honor fallen law enforcement officers around the state.
Here are the Florida firefighters who will be honored at the events. Information provided by the NFFF.
Ester, 51, died on May 10, 2024, after a 3½-year battle with cancer.
He devoted his life to the service of his community, starting with the Harbor City Volunteer Ambulance Squad and then the Satellite Beach Fire Department before joining the Melbourne Fire Department, where he retired as a lieutenant. Ester also served as a flight paramedic for First Flight and trained and mentored paramedics.
Ester is survived by his wife, Amy; his children, Eyan and Brett; and his stepchildren, Jordan, Trent, and Averi.
Geld, 65, died on December 23, 2023, from complications of cancer.
He began as a volunteer firefighter, ultimately joining the Melbourne Fire Department in 1988, where he trained others, built props for firefighter safety during training, and ran the driver development program. Geld also provided training at Florida Fire Training Institute and Eastern Florida State College.
Geld is survived by his wife, Jackie; children, JR (Nikki), Jason (Courtney), John, and Andy; and grandchildren, Rory, Brinn, Charlee, and Connor.
"Nate" Leonard, 43, died on January 12, 2022, from complications of cancer.
Since joining the Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Department in 2007, Leonard has earned a Unit Citation, three Lifesaving Commendations, and a Meritorious Duty Commendation. He served for many years on the department's Dive Rescue Team.
Leonard is survived by his wife, Nina; his parents, Jim and Marilyn; and his sister, Valerie.
O'Shea, 44, died on April 13, 2024, from an aortic aneurysm.
He began his 20-year career with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department in 2003, calling it 'the best job ever.' O'Shea saved countless lives, helped deliver at least eight babies, and even rescued several kittens along the way.
O'Shea is survived by his wife, Melanie; his son, Simon (18), and his daughter, Lily (11).
Tucker, 53, died on April 23, 2023, after a 22-month battle with glioblastoma brain cancer.
As a young boy, Tucker responded to calls with his grandfather, a forestry service employee who started several volunteer fire stations in Alabama. He went to serve 19 years as a firefighter and EMT. When Pasco County moved forward in cancer prevention, Tucker got the specialty certificates needed to work on their decontamination truck that rolled out in April 2020 and later moved to their special operations truck.
After his cancer diagnosis and treatment, Tucker moved to light duty but continued helping to train firefighters and make improvements in the training center. A new burn tower in the Pasco County Fire Rescue training center has been named for him.
Tucker is survived by his wife, Wendy; his son, Austin; his mother and stepfather, Carolyn and David McKoy; and his father and stepmother, Jerry and Theresa Tucker.
The candlelight service will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
A memorial service will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 4, 2025.
The NFFF will live stream both events on their website (firehero.org), YouTube channel, and Facebook page.
Even if you can't make it, there are ways to pay tribute to this year's honored firefighters.
Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters (April 27 - May 4: Light your homes, businesses, landmarks or fire departments with red lights.
Bells Across America (May 3-4): Sign up to ring bells across the country.
Sound the Sirens (May 4): At noon, many fire stations will sound their sirens in honor of fallen firefighters.
Sign the Remembrance Banner: You can pay tribute to a specific firefighter or share a story.
Four of the five honored Florida firefighters died from cancer or complications from it.
Firefighters put themselves at risk from more things than raging flames. Multiple studies have shown increased risks for cancer due to the smoke and hazardous chemicals firefighters and EMT personnel are exposed to in the line of duty.
When houses burn, carcinogens are released from the many synthetic and plastic materials in the home that can be inhaled or absorbed into the skin. Older homes may still have asbestos insulation, and diesel exhaust can be a factor.
According to research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH), firefighters have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population. Cancer was responsible for 70% of the line-of-duty deaths for career firefighters in 2016, the Firefighter Cancer Support Network said.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Fallen Firefighters Memorial to honor 5 Florida men who died in 2024
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