Honoring the sacrifice of fallen firefighters and police

The annual Living Flame Memorial Service honoring police and firefighters killed in the line of duty was held Wednesday at Franklin Square.

The family of Daniel Sweeney stands during Living Flame Memorial Service in Franklin Square May 2, 2012. Sweeney was one of two firefighters killed in the Kensington warehouse fire last month. ( TOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer )Read more

by Photos by Tom Gralish, Inquirer Staff Photographer

Published May 3, 2012, 8:58 a.m. ET

The annual Living Flame Memorial Service honoring police and firefighters killed in the line of duty was held Wednesday at Franklin Square, Sixth and Race Streets.

Since records were kept in the Philadelphia Fire Department in 1871, 288 members of the department have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Since 1828, at least 250 Philadelphia police officers have died while on duty.

Names added this year were Fire Lt. Robert Neary and Firefighter Daniel Sweeney, killed last month in a Kensington blaze.

No active police personnel have died in the line of duty since last year's service.