Two Nebraska firefighters to be honored in national memorial service

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Two fallen Nebraska firefighters will be honored by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation next weekend.

Families from all across the nation will come together to honor 148 firefighters who died in the line of duty in the last few years.

Each firefighter’s name will be inscribed on a bronze plaque and become a permanent part of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.

Volunteer Firefighter/Paramedic Dennis M. Bender, age 78, of the Ponca Hills Volunteer Fire Department, died on March 10, 2021, from a cardiac event after responding to three wildland fire calls.

Volunteer Firefighter/EMT Bob J. Kneifl, age 64, of the Ponca Hills Volunteer Fire Department, died on Dec. 7, 2020, due to complications of COVID-19.

See the list of fallen firefighters being honored here: 2022 Roll of Honor.

On Saturday, the families of America’s fallen firefighters will gather for an emotional candlelight service. As part of the ceremony, firefighters share the light from the remembrance candle, a symbol of the hope and enduring friendship shared by all who have lost a firefighter.

Sunday morning, families of fallen firefighters will participate in a memorial service, where the nation expresses its gratitude for the service of their loved ones. Each family is presented with a badge, a rose and an American flag flown over the Firefighters Memorial and the U.S. Capitol.

Viewers can watch live feeds from both services at firehero.org.

You are also encouraged to participate by lighting homes and landmarks in red through Oct. 9.

At the end of the weekend, bells will ring from coast to coast as a grateful nation pauses on Sunday for the Bells Across America for Fallen Firefighters.