Four hundred golfers came to the Deerfield Golf & Country Club on Clarkson-Parma Townline Road in Brockport, NY, for the two-day National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) Rochester Area Annual Golf Tournament on May 15 and 16, 2022. Golfers were greeted by newly installed memorial signs dedicating the surrounding sections of the roadway in honor of the fallen heroes and their survivors. The tournament was immediately followed by the NFFF Annual Fire Hero Family Wellness Conference. The NFFF is located in Emmitsburg, Md. It is the home to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, a striking stone monument encircled by plaques listing the names of all members of the fire service who have died in the line of duty since 1981. The foundation’s mission is “to honor and remember America’s fallen fire heroes, to provide resources to assist their families in rebuilding their lives, and work within the fire service community to reduce firefighter deaths and injuries.”
For 15 years, the Rochester Area Golf Tournament has been raising funds to support the NFFF’s mission and offer support to Fire Hero Families. Family members traveled from all over the country to golf and share their stories with participants. County officials were on hand to dedicate the roadway and officially unveil the signs of remembrance. Twenty-five families attended the tournament this year. They were honored and their loved ones were remembered at the closing banquet each night and during the tournament with signs and banners all over the course. This is one of two major NFFF fundraising events held every year in the Rochester area. The other is a 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb in September.
Chief Ronald Siarnicki, NFFF executive director, shared this message with participants: “Many of you today have been directly touched by the line of duty death of a firefighter. You have also seen at the darkest possible moment, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation was there to help pick up the pieces, and it will continue to provide comfort and support to the survivors.”
Sixty families came to the Rochester area from across the country to attend the NFFF 2022 Fire Hero Family Wellness Conference. The conference, which is held each year in various cities, took place at the Double Tree by Hilton in Henrietta, NY, from May 17-20. The program kicked off with a welcome dinner and included seminars, workshops, and community visits.
Conference attendees were greeted by local firefighters, dignitaries, and other survivors. Sessions on “Building Resilience Through Nature,” “Strong at the Broken Places,” “A Deafening Silence,” and “Taking Care of Yourself and Your Family in Stressful Times” were just a few of the programs presented. Other events included a “Men’s Service Project” hosted at the Fire Museum in Brockport, NY, where some landscaping was completed and fellowship with local firefighters was provided, tours of the area, as well as a dinner highlighting local cuisine at the Spencerport Fire District.
The NFFF Rochester Area Events Team worked with the foundation for many months planning the conference. While the foundation sought speakers and presenters, the local committee of community volunteers worked with area businesses and venues to enhance the experience for the attendees and showcase all that Rochester and Monroe County have to offer visiting families.
Retired Fire Chief Randy Jensen, local committee chair, expressed pride and appreciation for the number of golfers participating and the number of families attending the conference. He thanked the sponsors and supporters, golfers, and volunteers, and recognized the Fire Hero Families present at each event.