COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) — On September 18, families from across the country gathered at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs ahead of the annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial ceremony. This year, more than 300 names have been added to the wall, each one representing a life of service and sacrifice.

For some, arriving early offered a chance to grieve and reflect privately. Rose Sibley traveled from Detroit to honor her husband, John A. Sibley, who spent 30 years in the fire service, retiring as chief. He passed away in 2022 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

“We flew in from Detroit this morning… just to try and avoid a lot of the crowds. We wanted to get John’s name etched so it’s a keepsake for all of us,” said Rose Sibley.

Her granddaughter, Imogen Sibley, described the moment a

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