Times Square becomes a stage for first responders on Wednesday, October 28, when the First Responders Children's Foundation holds its 2026 Roll Call of Heroes ceremony in Midtown Manhattan. October 28 is National First Responders Day, a date Congress set aside in 2017, and the foundation marks it each year with a ceremony that names firefighters, police officers, emergency medical workers, 911 dispatchers and volunteers from around the country.

Jon Stewart is the host for a second straight year, according to the announcement released by presenting sponsor T-Mobile and the foundation on October 21. The ceremony will be livestreamed at 1stRCF.org/NFRD for anyone who cannot get to Times Square.

Three Anniversaries in One Ceremony

This year's event lines up with three milestones. The First Responders Children's Foundation was founded 25 years ago, in the wake of September 11, 2001, when about 800 children lost a parent who was a first responder. That makes 2026 both the foundation's 25th anniversary and the 25th year since 9/11. The ceremony also falls in the year of America's 250th birthday.

The foundation, a national nonprofit, now supports the children and families of first responders across the country. Its work centers on five areas: scholarships, financial assistance grants, natural disaster relief, free mental health counseling, and community engagement.

Who Is Being Honored

The 2026 Roll Call of Heroes names 19 first responders across fire, EMS, 911 dispatch, law enforcement and volunteer service. Seven of them come from New York agencies:

  • Assistant Chief Aaron Edwards of the New York City Police Department, NYPD Community Hero Award
  • Firefighter Travis Langan of the Fire Department of New York City, FDNY Community Hero Award
  • Officer Raheem Uddin of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department, MTA PD Community Hero Award
  • Detective James Wyka of the Port Authority Police Department, PAPD Community Hero Award
  • Troopers Gerandry Mercado and Ryan Sanchez of the New York State Police, NY State Trooper Community Hero Award
  • Task Force Officer Shakiyl Collier of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's New York Field Office, Federal Law Enforcement Hero Award

Honorees from other states include Paramedic Chris Rauzi of Eagle County Paramedic Services in Colorado, Firefighter Jason Horne of the Midlothian Fire Department in Texas, Volunteer Firefighter Westley Quinn of the Hurricane Fire Department in West Virginia, Explorer Sergeant Christopher Alvarado of the Oakland Housing Authority Police Department in California, Master Telecommunicator Jenny Smith of the Alachua County Sheriff's Office in Florida, and Officer Ali Sabeiha of the Elyria Police Department in Ohio.

A new medal joins the program this year. The Leadership Award, which recognizes leadership and career service, goes to Chad Huff of Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services in Canton, Georgia. Five leaders from the Spokane area of Washington State, Chief Matthew Vinci, Chief Mike Nokes, Chief Tom Williams, Chief Don Malone and Sheriff John Nowels, receive the Natural Disaster Response Award for their agencies' collective work during the past year.

A Week of Thanks Around the Country

The Times Square ceremony caps a week of appreciation events. On Saturday, October 24, the foundation and T-Mobile hosted gatherings at 25 T-Mobile stores across the country from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with free food, games, giveaways, photo stations and emergency vehicle displays at select locations. Visitors could leave handwritten notes of thanks on Gratitude Walls set up in the stores.

T-Mobile is also contributing $125,000 to the foundation to support first responder agencies and families. The money goes toward scholarships, mental health counseling, bereavement grants, disaster relief, emergency financial assistance and community programs.

The foundation has held its Roll Call of Heroes for several years running. At the 2025 ceremony it honored 15 first responders, and governors from 41 states issued proclamations recognizing the day.

How to Watch or Stop By

The ceremony takes place in Times Square on Wednesday, October 28. The organizers have not posted a public schedule for in-person viewing, so the simplest way to follow along is the livestream at 1stRCF.org/NFRD. Families who want to learn about the foundation's scholarships, counseling and grants for first responders' children can find program details on the same site.

Times Square sits above the Times Sq-42 St station, served by the 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, W and S shuttle trains, with the A, C and E connecting at 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal.

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