Honoring the Fallen - Firefighter Memorial Transport

In the heart of Las Vegas, a retired New York City firefighter and Navy veteran named Frank Pizarro is dedicating his life to a mission that transcends mere remembrance: "Honoring the Fallen," i.e. first responders and veterans with dignity, respect, and deeply personal tribute. His effort, known as the nonprofit organization, Firefighter Memorial Transport, Inc. is a beacon of healing and community in a world too often driven by haste.

Frank Pizarro’s journey is one defined by courage and sacrifice. Enlisting in the Navy during Operation Desert Storm, he later answered the call to serve as an FDNY firefighter in 1998. Those experiences—the roar of battle, the chaos of Ground Zero, where he spent five harrowing months searching for his fallen brothers following the World Trade Center collapse—shaped a man who fully understands heroism and loss. 

Honoring the Fallen - Founding of the Organization

Retiring from the FDNY in 2017 due to 9/11-related health issues, Pizarro relocated to Las Vegas determined to continue serving others. Inspired by ceremonial units he once served in, he founded the Firefighter Memorial Transport to ensure fallen firefighters, police officers, and veterans receive a ceremonial “homegoing” that honors their service in a way befitting their sacrifice.

At the heart of this mission is one transformative concept: instead of using a standard hearse, Pizarro repurposes restored emergency vehicles. A retired 1991 Pierce fire engine, retrofitted to respectfully carry caskets, serves as a dignified transport vehicle. Similarly, he works to outfit Humvees and police transports to honor those branches of service 

Why It Matters—Real Impact, Real Healing

The Firefighter Memorial Transport is more than a symbolic gesture—it’s a tangible act of compassion. "Honoring the Fallen" is the theme of the organization. These ceremonial transports offer grieving families a deeply meaningful way to say goodbye to their loved ones, showcasing the respect and honor due to those who laid down their lives in service.

But the organization's impact runs deeper:

• Financial support: The nonprofit assists families facing unexpected funeral costs.
• Scholarships: Children of the fallen are provided educational opportunities.
• Community engagement: Events like food and coat drives help spark community involvement, awareness, and healing.

Frank’s dream of honoring the fallen goes even further: establishing a New York–style firehouse in Las Vegas, complete with an honor garden, museum, training space, and community rooms—all to serve as a daily reminder that service never goes unnoticed.

The Challenge of Continuity

Despite its profound impact, the organization faces challenges:

• Funds: Pizarro notes that people often invest hundreds for concerts yet hesitate when it comes to dignifying final tributes.
• Expansion: Pizarro hopes to expand the program nationally—forging partnerships with fire departments, veterans’ organizations, and supporters around the country.

A Unique Voice for a Unique Cause - Honoring the Fallen

Frank Pizarro isn’t just the project’s driving force—he’s its voice, in both literal and symbolic ways. A longtime gospel singer who later performed with legends like Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, and The Platters, Frank’s vocal talents are as powerful as his presence.

At the most recent National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Annual Conference & Exposition in Las Vegas, Frank opened the event with a stirring rendition of The National Anthem. Witnesses described his performance as deeply moving—well-suited to the solemn, proud traditions of fire service. It’s one more way he brings healing and unity to every gathering.

Indeed, Frank has performed at NFL stadiums—from Mets and Rangers games to Yankees opener ceremonies. He continues to lend his voice at 9/11 tributes, bringing the words "God Bless America" and "The National Anthem" to firehouses, memorials, and readings of remembrance events. Each performance is therapeutic—not just for him—but for every listener who embraces gratitude and memory.

Why You Should Consider Donating

1. Honor real heroes
    The Firefighter Memorial Transport steps beyond ceremonies—it preserves legacies, giving families, peers, and communities a chance to remember, restore, and rebuild.
2. Support resilience and recovery
    Frank has known physical and emotional hardship: lung damage, PTSD, and the scars of Ground Zero. But his work is therapeutic—and by contributing, you support a model of healing through community service.
3. Scale meaningful impact
   With sufficient donations, this model—affordable, compassionate, and dignified—can be expanded to every state. The dream is practical: every family in America deserves the kind of ceremony the Firefighter Memorial Transport organization delivers at no cost.
4. Foster community cohesion
    Through public events, ceremonies, and educational initiatives, the organization brings people together across generations and sectors; buying into this mission reinforces unity and shared purpose.

Honoring the Fallen - Where Contributions Go

• Vehicle procurement & retrofit
   Restoring retired apparatus and outfitting them with respectful honors—like lift systems and memorial plaques—costs tens of thousands of dollars.
• Funeral transport costs
   Fuel, maintenance, and volunteer training are all funded fully by donations to ensure no cost falls to grieving families.
• Scholarships and financial relief
  All awards and support are paid directly to recipients—no salaries or administrative overhead.
• Future community hub
   Plans are underway to establish a central facility: a museum, training space, offices, memorial garden, and welcoming environment for families and volunteers.

Own the Mission: Here’s How to Help

• Donate: Even modest gifts go a long way—small contributions help fund a homegoing ceremony, while larger contributions can fully outfit a vehicle for a year.
• Sponsor a vehicle: Well-named “tribute apparatus” such as a fire engine, ambulance, police vehicle or military Humvee offers families and communities a visible, living testament to sacrifice.
• Volunteer: Help with ceremonies, drives, administration, event coordination—there’s always a need for dedicated hands.
• Spread the word: Share Frank’s story and mission at local firehouses, schools, community groups, and social media. Awareness is essential to the cause.

Final Reflection

Every day, America’s first responders—firefighters, police, veterans—place themselves between danger and the public. When they fall, their families deserve more than anonymity; they deserve honor, remembrance, and support.

Frank Pizarro’s Firefighter Memorial Project stands as a living legacy—a fusion of ceremony, service, and song. His voice—echoing through stadiums, ceremonies, and conference halls—reminds us why we serve, why we remember, and why we must invest in those who sacrificed.

As Frank once reflected during a Las Vegas 9/11 tribute:

“It’s therapeutic, first of all. But it’s an honor, always, to be recognized as a first responder.” 

By supporting this cause, we don’t just donate to a nonprofit—we affirm our collective commitment to honor heroes, comfort families, and heal a grateful nation.

Join the Mission. Honor Their Legacy. Donate Today.

Thank You,

Dave - Mighty Line Minute