Emmitsburg, MD – The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) has announced that two of the major events taking place during the 2003 Memorial Weekend (October 4-5) will be available for broadcast live via satellite, for easy downlink. This will mark the first time in the history of the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service, that a live feed will be available. The NFFF is pleased to welcome the efforts of the Alliance of Community Broadcasters, and the National Information Officer Association whom are making this possible.
Satellite coordinates for the Candlelight Service (October 4) and the National Memorial Service (October 5) are provided below. The Memorial Weekend will honor 99 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2002, and six firefighters who died in previous years.
The Candlelight Service will feature musical selections by members of the fire service and survivors of fallen firefighters and a video tribute to 2002 fallen heroes. Fire service honor guard and families will light commemorative candles for the fallen firefighters. Luminaria decorated by the children attending Family Day will be displayed during the ceremony. As the ceremony closes, survivors will light the Remembrance Candle, a symbol of the hope and enduring friendship shared by all who have lost a firefighter.
The National Memorial Service, lead by Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, and other fire service leaders,[FEMA1][FEMA2] will remember America’s bravest who died in the line of duty in 2002. Thousands of people are expected to attend and celebrate the lives of these American heroes. The ceremony, rich in fire service traditions, will begin with an honor guard and bagpiper salute. Families will receive American flags flown over the Nation’s Capitol and the Emmitsburg monument. The tribute will conclude with the unveiling of the memorial plaque listing the names of the 2002 fallen heroes.
The Foundation will broadcast the Candlelight Service live from the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton on Saturday, October 4, 2003.
The uplink begins at 6:15 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) with the Candlelight Service starting at 6:30 p.m. (EDT)
The satellite coordinates are:
C-BAND:
Satellite: Telesat ANIK F-1 (C-Band)
Transponder: 4b
Polarization: Vertical
Channel Number: 8
Downlink Frequency: 3860 MHz
Orbital Position: 107 Degrees West Longitude
Audio Frequency: 6.2/6.8
Technical Trouble Phone #: 717-221-2959
Uplinked from WITF Harrisburg, PA
KU-BAND:
Satellite: AMC – 9 (Ku-Band)
Transponder: 15
Polarization: Vertical
Channel Number: 15
Downlink Frequency: 12000 MHz
Orbital Position: 85 Degrees West Longitude
Audio Frequency: 6.2/6.8
Technical Trouble Phone #: (215) 429-5058 through 5061
2003 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5 – NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE
The test pattern begins at 9 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) with the live ceremony starting at 10 a.m. (EDT). The ceremony will last approximately 2 hours.
The satellite coordinates are:
C-BAND: Please note differences from Saturday coordinates
Satellite: Telesat ANIK F-1 (C-Band)
Transponder: 3b
Polarization: Vertical
Channel Number: 6
Downlink Frequency: 3820 MHz
Orbital Position: 107 Degrees West Longitude
Audio Frequency: 6.2/6.8
Technical Trouble Phone: 717-221-2959
Uplinked from WITF Harrisburg, PA
KU-BAND: Same as Saturday coordinates
Satellite: AMC – 9 (Ku-Band)
Transponder: 15
Polarization: Vertical
Channel Number: 15
Downlink Frequency: 12000 MHz
Orbital Position: 85 Degrees West Longitude
Audio Frequency: 6.2/6.8
Technical Trouble Phone #: 215-429-5058 through 5061
