COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) — Thousands of visitors from across the United States and Canada are in Colorado Springs this week for ceremonies honoring firefighters who lost their lives due to circumstances connected to their careers.

There names are etched into the granite walls of the memorial.

“We honor the 311 names. There are 285 families here in town, and when they come to town, we take care of them from the time they step off at the airport to the time they get back there the following Sunday,” said Event Coordinator and Colorado Springs Firefighter, Chris Weaver.

Family and friends of the fallen are treated as honored guests.

Making that happen requires a command center manned by firefighters working on their days off along with hundreds of others who step up to volunteer.

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