At FDIC last week, one regular exhibitor had a much smaller booth than usual, and for good reason. Sperian Fire elected to downsize its exhibit significantly, and with the money it saved on exhibit costs, it’s making a $100,000 donation to National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

That’s a lot of cash, and what’s even cooler: Sperian is making the donation in your name. Over the next few months, firefighters from across the U.S. and Canada can sign the donation registry on the Sperian Web site and show their support for NFFF, as well as leave comments in memory of their fallen comrades.

Needless to say, the site is already getting substantial traffic. The donation registry opened at FDIC, and during the conference alone more than 500 firefighters logged on to express their support for what Sperian is doing and to remember specific family and friends who’ve been lost in the line of duty. Some of the comments I saw:

-Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for a friend -- John 15:13
-Thank you to everyone who serves and to those whose lives have been taken from us. You have done great things for your family, friends, neighbors.
-It is with the deepest gratitude and heartfelt thanks for the dedication of all who have given their all that I say THANK YOU! Being a FIREFIGHTER is the ultimate example of THE GIVING OF ONE'S SELF.
-We are family. We are here for you. We will never forget.

It’s rare that you get to attach your name to a donation that you didn’t make, and to some that might almost feel strange. But doing so will not only show support for Sperian’s initiative; it will encourage other fire service manufacturers and vendors to look for equally creative ways to donate to the NFFF and other charitable organizations that help firefighters and their families.

The sad truth is that you probably don’t have to think for more than a few seconds for the name of someone you know who died in the line of duty. Make sure they’re remembered with all the others.

Shannon Pieper is managing editor for FireRescue magazine.