National Red Helmet Ride

Please note the updated times

National Red Helmet Ride 2022 (24th year)

I received confirmation from the NFFF Command staff advising me that all riders will be able to ride on campus and then be able to visit our Memorial on Sat. Oct. 8.

This ride honors firefighters that have made the ultimate sacrifice, It is open to all riders, civilian and FFs as well any motorcycle. There will be two staging areas. Staging at the Water Tower on Maxwell Frye Rd begins at 1130hrs. Depart at 1230 hrs with AAPD es**rt to Walkersville VFD (79 West Frederick St, Walkersville) arriving at approximately 1415hrs to stage with other riders. Depart at 1515hrs with Frederick Cty Sheriff es**rt to and through Emmitsburg City and then arriving at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial at 1600hrs. At approximately 1630hrs, there will be a brief speech and then the Red Helmet Ride wreath will be placed at the Memorial.

Please follow as directed for parking once on campus. We will wait there for Security to brief all of us.
Remember this is a Federal Agency.

READ and HEED this message. I can't emphasize this enough. We ALL will be screened (metal detectors) before anyone is allowed to visit the Memorial. DO NOT bring any kind of weapon or anything that can be construed as being a weapon, i.e. knives, even a pen knife no matter how small, leatherman's tools, clubs, guns ( even ones that are lighters) or ANYTHING that may prevent you or others from entering. Lock it in your bike or a friends bike. Better yet, LEAVE IT HOME! If you forget to remove it, it will be confiscated, PERIOD. It also could/would jeopardize future rides. This was one of the concerns of the Command Staff and FEMA Security.

The other concern by the Command Staff was a resurgence of COVID. IF this becomes a problem, there will be a ride that will ONLY go past the Wyndham (host hotel) in Gettysburg, PA as we did last year so that the families can enjoy seeing the riders. The NFFF Command staff has requested this alternative ride. Riders that wish to do this will assemble at Walkersville VFD. Riders should leave at 12:00 Noon passing the hotel at approximately 1:00pm. NO ES**RT will be provided. There will be NO admittance to our Memorial that day since the Campus will be closed to the general public. If this becomes a reality, anyone wishing to do this will be on their own.

Please pass this NRHR post on to others and check back for any changes or other details.

IF there is a last minute change as to which ride will occur, I will post it on the NRHR FB page. So check often.

Ride safe.
Chief Tomy Baker, Chairman NRHR

I wanted to let everyone know I've been in touch with Foundation on an very important concern. When I checked this year Memorial weekend, I found that all activities will be returning EXCEPT the Red Helmet Ride. I was informed that the Foundation ONLY wants the riders to pass past the only host hotel (The Wyndham in Frederick - the second hotel we passed last year). I requested an explanation as to Why we were being excluded from the campus. I have not received an answer. I had also stated that the majority of riders are firefighters that we want to be able to enjoy OUR Memorial. In lieu of current situation, I have temporarily "put a hold" on the ride itself and informed the Foundation of this. I personally feel that after 23 years of having this ride (the last14 years as an actual integral part of the Memorial weekend), we should be able to ride in as usual. I explained that last year's ride actually had a poor attendance both riders and families and if we could not ride again, attendance would be even worse. Again, I don't know the reason. I just hope the Foundation will allow us to return as before. I will post their response.

Chief Tomy Baker Chairman NRHR

Rest easy Brothers and Sister, We've got from here.