NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – In a solemn remembrance echoing centuries of firehouse tradition, uniformed firefighters, family members and grateful citizens gathered on Saturday in the heart of California’s capital to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The 16th annual California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony recognized 37 California firefighters who have died in the line of duty, whether from traumatic injury or job-related illness.

Their names were added to nearly 1,400 fellow fallen firefighters inscribed on the brushed limestone wall of the California Firefighters Memorial in Sacramento’s Capitol Park.

“These 37 fallen heroes are now inscribed into the history of California,” said Brian K. Rice, president of California Professional Firefighters and Chair of the California Fire Foundation “Forever after, our fellow citizens will look at this Memorial wall, touch the names etched into it and admire their courage. We miss them terribly, but we will never forget what they gave to all of us.”

The midday ceremony included a procession of uniformed firefighters through Capitol Park and presentation of flags to family members of the 37 honorees, including Ernesto Torres, surviving partner of slain Long Beach Fire Captain David Rosa, who presented the folded United States flag to Captain Rosa’s wife, Lynley Rosa.

Long Beach Battalion Chief Jeff Hardin also spoke in remembrance of Captain Rosa, who was gunned down this past June while responding to an explosion and fire. The ceremony concluded with the traditional ringing of the “Last Alarm.”

“California firefighters represent the very best our state has to offer. Today, we honor 37 heroes who sacrificed, who gave their life to protect us, to keep us safe,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. “We owe a debt to these 37 heroes and their families. We can do that best by giving our firefighters every resource they need to do their job well and safely.”

The memorial ceremony comes at a time when the cost of the job has been especially steep.

Among those being added to the memorial is Cal Fire firefighter Cory Iverson, who lost his life last December battling the Thomas Fire in Southern California.

This past summer, four more firefighters lost their lives battling California’s ferocious wildfires, including Draper City Fire Battalion Chief Matt Burchett, who died in August while fighting the Ranch fire portio of the Mendocino Complex.

Officials said those four firefighters will be honored at next year’s memorial ceremony.

Also in attendance was California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, California State Senate President pro tem Toni Atkins, State Senators Ricardo Lara and Richard Pan, Assemblymembers Jim Cooper, Ken Cooley, Freddie Rodriguez, Jose Medina, Kevin Kiley and Heath Flora, and Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg.

Unveiled in April of 2002, the California Firefighters Memorial features two stunning statues and a dramatic memorial wall on which the names of nearly 1,400 fallen firefighters are now engraved.

The memorial was created through private contributions to the California Fire Foundation, most of them directly from firefighters.

The annual ceremony is conducted by the California Fire Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization created by California Professional Firefighters in 1987. The foundation’s mission is to aid fallen firefighter families and the communities they protect through an array of public education and victim assistance projects. California Professional Firefighters represents 30,000 career firefighters and paramedics. It has over 170 affiliated local unions, and is the State Council for the International Association of Fire Fighters.