UPDATE (Monday, May 8, 2023): This article has been updated to reflect the correct year Bill Halstead was elected chief of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company.

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Bill Halstead will be among those remembered this weekend during the 2023 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.

The Sandy Hook native and longtime chief of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company (SHVFR) died in July 2022 after suffering a fatal heart attack at his home following a fire call.

His death was considered a line of duty death, which has led to him being included in state and national memorials.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) hosts the annual memorial weekend. Events for family members and fire service personnel are conducted at FEMA’s National Emergency Training Center campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Memorial weekend events this year are planned for Saturday and Sunday, May 6-7.

Ahead of the national observation, Newtown First Selectman Dan Rosenthal this week presented a proclamation to Deb Halstead, Chief Halstead’s widow.

Rosenthal met with Deb Halstead in the Council Chamber of Newtown Municipal Center on May 2.

The proclamation notes the importance of the day of the annual NFFF Memorial Service, which has been dedicated by the President and US Congress as “a day to honor firefighters and emergency services personnel who have sacrificed their lives to save others by lowering the American flag on all federal buildings to half-staff.”

While “an average of 80 firefighters courageously make the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty each year,” the proclamation notes, firefighters and emergency personnel nevertheless “play an essential role in the protection of lives and property in our local community.”

It is “a major importance,” the proclamation continued, that efforts be increased “to reduce deaths, injuries, and property losses from fire.”

Rosenthal also called for all citizens of Newtown “and upon all patriotic, civil, and educational organizations to observe the day of May 7, 2023, in recognition of the patriotic service and dedicated efforts to our fire and emergency services personnel by lowering American flags on all buildings to half-staff.”

Finally, the first selectman called upon the aforementioned to “remember all fire and emergency personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their community, especially William T. Halstead, Sr, and to pay respect to the survivors of our fallen heroes by participating in Bells Across America for Fallen Firefighters.”

Bells Across America is a nationwide acknowledgement each National Memorial Weekend. Fire departments across the country are joined by faith communities, carillonneurs, and other neighborhood organizations to ring in honor of firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Memorial Weekend

Looking at the proclamation after it had been presented to her Tuesday morning, Deb Halstead tried to smile. Tears were forming in her eyes, however.

“I appreciate all of this,” she said. “I love firefighters, and appreciate all they do, I really do.

“I understand the sacrifice and the commitment they give to all our residents and the community,” she said.

“I want to thank our First Selectman for presenting me with this proclamation in recognition of my husband, who will be honored this weekend at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial,” she added. Deb and other members of the late chief’s family will be attending the tribute. Members of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company are also planning to be in Emmitsburg.

A Candlelight Service on Saturday evening at 7:30 and the Memorial Service on Sunday morning at 10 am are both open to the public.

Those unable to attend in person can view livestreams on the homepage of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s website (firehero.org), NFFF’s YouTube Channel, and its Facebook page.

Additional events during Memorial Weekend are provided exclusively for the families and fire departments of the honored firefighters.

The late Sandy Hook chief is one of 144 firefighters in the 2023 Roll of Honor — 79 firefighters who died in 2022 and 65 who died in previous years — and one of two from Connecticut.

Matthias A. Wirtz, of North Haven Fire Department, is also on this year’s roll of honor. Firefighter Wirtz suffered a fatal heart attack on December 26, 2022, while on the scene of a fire at a multi-family home.

Halstead had served continuously as chief of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company for 44 years, having been elected to the position in 1978.

He joined the department in January 1965 when he turned 16.

Halstead also worked for the State of Connecticut at Fairfield Hills Hospital in Newtown for 25 years. He was the chief of the hospital’s fire department until his retirement in 1997.

He also served as Deputy Fire Marshal for the Town of Newtown from 1983 to 2001, and became the full-time Marshal in 2001 until he retired from that position in 2016. He also served as Newtown’s Emergency Management Director for 23 years.

In the days ahead and immediately following the events in Emmitsburg, NFFF annually organizes Light The Night for Fallen Firefighters. Landmarks, fire and community organizations, businesses, and homes across the country are invited to light up in red.

The event begins on International Firefighters Day, May 4. It continues this year to Sunday, May 7.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.