"Too often, we take them for granted, our firefighters," Clinton said.
The families of the six firefighters were presented with the IAFF Martin E. Pierce Memorial Medal after Clinton's speech.
Each family was then presented with an American flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol building Dec. 3.
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A final commendation prayer was said by Rev. David Lindsay, Protestant chaplain of the Worcester Fire Department, and the firefighter prayer was read by Lt. Donald Courtney, vice-president of the local IAFF chapter.
In the ceremony's haunting conclusion, the Massachusetts State Police played taps while members of the families wept and the young son of one of the slain, with his head turned downward, clutched a folded American flag.