Brian Phelps and Randy Atkins presented Ben Coffman the Fire Safety Commendation and Medal on in front of a large crowd on June 12 at the LeadershipLegacy event held at the Atlantic Union Bank in Harrisonburg, VA.

​Ben began his firefighting journey at age 14 with the Timberville Volunteer Fire Department and has now given more than 35 years to protecting lives and property. He served over 20 years with Fairfax County Fire & Rescue, rising to law enforcement-certified Fire Marshal and Explosives Enforcement Program Manager, where his work in fire prevention and code enforcement directly safeguarded our communities. He later served as Fire Chief in Livingston, Montana, and today serves as Deputy Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator for Frederick County Fire & Rescue.

A graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer program, Ben also serves on the National Capital Region Incident Management Team. In that role, he provided critical leadership during the complex multi-agency response and recovery following the January 2025 mid-air collision involving American Airlines Flight 5342 near Reagan National Airport. For those efforts, the NCR IMT was recently honored by the Aero Club of Washington as Persons of the Year, with Ben representing the team.

Ben’s decades of dedicated service in fire prevention, emergency response, and incident command exemplify the highest standards of professionalism and selfless commitment to protecting human life and property.

Fort Harrison sponsored a Grave Marking for two Patriots at Elk Run Cemetery in Elkton on June 14. Patriots Henry Hammer and Henry Miller were honored during the ceremony that featured the Virginia SAR Color Guard, three SAR chapters and four DAR chapters. 

Fort Harrison hosted the fifth annual Flag Day Retirement and Dedication Ceremony at the Elkton Downtown Market Place. This was the third consecutive year in Elkton, the permanent location for the event. Vice President Jimmy Kilbourne gave the keynote speech titled "O say can you see, read, hear". Other participating SAR chapters included the General Daniel Morgan and the Colonel James Wood II Chapters. DAR participation included chapters from Massanutton, Narrow Passage, Beverly Manor, Shenandoah River. 

​On May 31,2026 the Fort Harrison Chapter participated in the Grave Remarking of CPT John Ignatious Effinger a Revolutionary War Solder hosted by the Narrow Passage Chapter NSDAR at the St. Paul's Reformed Church Cemetery in Woodstock Va. John was a originally a British soldier who deserted and enlisted in the Continental Army. He quickly rose through the ranks earning the trust of GEN George Washington and became one of his personal bodyguards and fought alongside Washington and escorted him to Mount Vernon after the cessation of the fight for our freedom.