Douglas Farrington

Douglas Farrington was committed to the fire service for more than half his life.

On Sunday, he and nearly 90 fellow firefighters from across the country will be honored at the 30th Annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Md.

Farrington, president of the Delta-Cardiff Volunteer Fire Co., died from a heart attack last year less than a day after responding to a barn fire. He was 44.

The service honors firefighters who died in the line of duty in previous years. Including Farrington, eight Pennsylvania firefighters will be remembered.

Delta-Cardiff Fire Chief Jeff Griffith said the ceremony will be an emotional one.

"It's going to bring back a lot of memories for everybody," he said.

Busload: Griffith, an honor guard and family and friends of Farrington are expected to head south of the Mason-Dixon Line for the ceremony.

Firefighters from a number of neighboring departments are expected to make the trek down in a bus, Griffith said.

According to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, more than 6,000 people are expected to attend the service.

Families will receive flags flown over the U. S. Capitol and the National Memorial. Members of the fire service, honor guard units and pipe and drum units from across the county will take part.

Firefighter: For the better part of his life, Farrington was involved in firefighting.

He served as treasurer, captain and lieutenant at Delta-Cardiff. He also volunteered even more time at the Whiteford (Md.) Volunteer Fire Co.

Farrington was a fire inspector for the Aberdeen Proving Ground Fire and Emergency Services.

His life outside the fire service revolved around helping the community.

For 25 years, Farrington worked as the chairman for what has become the Mason-Dixon Fair.

He was also active with the Delta Area Baseball and Softball for Youth league, where he served as president, Griffith said.

"He was very dedicated," he said.

-- Reach Greg Gross at 505-5434 or ggross@yorkdispatch.com.