EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Two fallen Rhode Island firefighters were honored in Maryland on Sunday during the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.
The 43rd annual event, organized by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), paid tribute to those who died in the line of duty in 2023 and those who passed away in previous years.
The two firefighters from Rhode Island were James L. Varin Sr., who served in Providence’s Fire Department, and Robert T. Gardner Jr. from Richmond-Carolina’s Fire District.
The NFFF said Varin Sr. passed away last February from brain cancer.
12 News recently spoke with Gardner Jr.’s wife, who said he suddenly died from a heart attack after coming home from a fire call in January of 2023.
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Family, friends, and fellow firefighters gathered during the event to grieve those they’ve lost.
The NFFF also received 226 American flags from Congress, one for each firefighter.
The flags were flown over the United States Capital and the memorial on Sunday. Alongside the flags, families received a badge with the name of their fallen firefighter and a red rose.