3 Valley firefighters honored at 43rd annual National Fallen Firefighters

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Three Rio Grande Valley firefighters were honored during a national fallen firefighters memorial service.

This weekend, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation hosted its 43^rd National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Fallen Brownsville Firefighter Peter S. Avila was honored during the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. (Courtesy of: The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation)

The foundation hosted a national tribute where they honored 89 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2023 and 137 firefighters who died in previous years. 

Among those who were honored was 59-year-old Brownsville firefighter Peter S. Avila, who died on December 7, 2021, due to complications of COVID-19.

Avila served the community for 21 and was also part of the Airport Rescue Firefighter team. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he served for four years.

Other Rio Grande Valley firefighters honored by the foundation were Jesus "Jesse" De La Rosa Jr of the Weslaco Fire Department. He died in 2020 at the age of 55.

Chief Danny Dean Watkins of the San Benito Fire Department was also honored. He died in 2021 at the age of 67.