EMMITSBURG, Md. – The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation will host the 43^rd National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend on May 4-5. This year’s national tribute will honor 89 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2023, and 137 firefighters who died in previous years. The honorees will include seven from Florida, including Clay County Fire Rescue Engineer/Paramedic Jeremy J. McKay.

He died on Nov. 27, 2019, of complications of Adenocarcinoma, deemed by the State of Florida to be a line-of-duty death.

After several years as a technician with the Clay County District Schools, he completed schooling to become an important member of Fire Rescue. McKay was with CCFR for 14 years before losing his battle following a brave 14-month battle with cancer.

McKay was a husband and father. He used his story to help effect changes in the laws for future Florida firefighters. He was a vital member of a dedicated team that got 21 cancers to be recognized by the state as being associated with firefighting.

Other firefighters from Florida who will be recognized will be:

• Engineer/Paramedic Douglas Clemmons, 56, of the Polk County Fire Department. He suffered a heart attack on June 14, 2022, while participating in physical fitness training at the fire station.

• Firefighter/EMT Austin Duran, 25, of the Apopka Fire Department. He and another firefighter were moving a sand trailer to another fire station on June 30, 2022, in preparation for hazardous materials emergency responses, when the trailer fell while being hooked up, fatally pinning him.

• Lt. James Hunt, 65, of the Melbourne Fire Department. He died on March 29, 2022, due to complications of cancer, deemed by the State of Florida to be in the line of duty.

• Battalion Chief Terryson Jackson, 50, of the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Department of Fire/Rescue. He was part of the flight crew that was dispatched to an emergency medical call regarding a traffic crash with injuries on Aug. 28, 2023, when the helicopter encountered an in-flight emergency and crashed into an apartment building.

• Deputy Chief Robert Low Jr., 56, of the Greater Naples Fire Rescue District. He died on May 19, 2023, due to complications of cancer, deemed by the State of Florida to be a line-of-duty death.

• Capt. Richard “Brian” Wolnewitz, 44, of the Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue. He died on Aug. 16, 2022, due to complications of lung cancer, deemed by the State of Florida to be a line-of-duty death.

 “National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend is a time for our nation to pause and reflect on the heroic efforts and selfless service of the fallen firefighters we are paying tribute to this year,” said NFFF CEO Victor Stagnaro. “We will always remember the bravery, commitment, and sacrifices of each of these 226 heroes – and their families.”