EMMITSBURG, Md. (October 3, 2009)—Teague Volunteer Fire Department Chief Robert Knight, who died of injuries he received when a wall collapsed as he helped battle an Independence Day blaze, is among 103 fallen firefighters from 36 states who will be honored Saturday in Maryland at the 28th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.

More than 5,000 people, including members of Congress and administration officials will attend the service, honoring 98 men and 5 women who gave their lives in the line of duty in 2008.

A plaque bearing the names of Knight and the other 102 firefighters will be added to the National Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial on the National Fire Academy campus.

Around the country, many fire departments will conduct simultaneous services, sounding sirens at noon and observing a moment of silence in tribute.

“The fire service is honored and humbled to memorialize these fallen heroes and show our sincere appreciation for the sacrifices made by those they left behind,” said Chief Dennis Compton, Chairman of the NFFF Board of Directors.

Knight, left behind his wife Teri Jo, son Trent and daughters Layla and Laura as well as a number of stunned friends and fellow firefighters.

Knight, a 1988 Texas A&M graduate and an engineer for the BNSF Railroad, was nearly a lifelong resident of Teague, and his death touched many in the small town deeply.

He joined the Teague VFD in 1989 and became chief in 1999.

He also volunteered as a paramedic.

Residents, some holding flags, silently lined the loop to Bowers Funeral Home in Teague as a procession of fire trucks escorted Knight’s body back from Tyler where he was taken after the wall collapse.

Five days after he died in a Tyler hospital, more than 1,500 mourners including firefighters from dozens of departments attend funeral services, filling the sanctuary of Teague’s First Baptist Church and two rooms of the church’s Family Life Center.

After the service at the church, bagpipers played as Knight’s flag-draped casket was placed on a Teague Fire Department truck at the head of a long procession that included dozens of trucks from other departments as well as the motorcycles of the Patriot Guard.

Knight was laid to rest in Teague’s Greenwood Cemetery.

Three other fallen Texas firefighters will be honored Saturday.

Fire Apparatus Operator Roger Dennis, Jr., 55, of the San Antonio Fire Department died of a heart attack within 24 hours of responding on an EMS call in February 2008.

Firefighter Dale Grider, 36, of the Dekalb Volunteer Fire Department died of a heart attack within 24 hours of responding to a grass fire and while en route to department training in September 2008.

Firefighter Joe Pat Jordan, 71, of the Pickton/Pine Force Volunteer Fire Department died of a heart attack while responding to a motor vehicle accident on the same day that Knight died, July 4, 2008.