National First Responders Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
The U.S. Fire Administration recognizes 28 October as National First Responders Day; presidential proclamation records also use that date for national recognition.
About National First Responders Day
National First Responders Day is a United States observance held on October 28 to honor firefighters, law-enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel and other first responders who protect and assist the public during emergencies.
The current October 28 observance has a documented multi-stage history: Andrew Collier began a national campaign in 2013, a coalition carried the effort to Capitol Hill in 2016, the U.S. Senate supported an October 28 designation in 2017, and President Joe Biden formally proclaimed October 28, 2022 as National First Responders Day.
Why National First Responders Day matters
The day recognizes the service, risk and sacrifice of people who respond first to emergencies, disasters, fires, medical crises and threats to public safety.
Its history should not be reduced to a single invented founding event. Earlier federal appreciation-day activity existed in 2007, while the present October 28 campaign developed through advocacy, congressional recognition efforts and later presidential proclamation.
History of National First Responders Day
An earlier federal precursor existed before the current October 28 campaign. In 2007 the U.S. Senate adopted S. Res. 215 designating September 25, 2007 as National First Responder Appreciation Day. That one-year appreciation designation is preserved separately rather than treated as the same observance under a former date.
The modern National First Responders Day campaign is documented in contemporary 2013 reporting after MIT Police Officer Sean Collier was killed following the Boston Marathon bombing. His brother Andrew Collier launched a website and petition seeking a national day honoring first responders and their sacrifices.
The campaign broadened in 2016. Thank You First Responder records that Andrew Collier and its co-founders began in-person Capitol Hill advocacy in September 2016, while contemporary partner material describes a coalition campaign and petition for a national First Responders Day.
On May 18, 2017, S. Con. Res. 15 was introduced in the U.S. Senate supporting designation of October 28, 2017 as Honoring the Nation’s First Responders Day. The Senate later agreed to the concurrent resolution on August 3, 2017. These actions are preserved as congressional recognition steps, not as proof that a permanent federal holiday was enacted.
President Joe Biden signed Presidential Proclamation 10482 on October 27, 2022, proclaiming October 28, 2022 as National First Responders Day. The reviewed evidence therefore establishes an official presidential proclamation for the modern date, but it does not establish the exact first public celebration of the current campaign or why October 28 was originally selected.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
National First Responder Appreciation Day
The U.S. Senate designated September 25, 2007 as National First Responder Appreciation Day through S. Res. 215. The later October 28 National First Responders Day campaign is treated as a distinct modern observance rather than as a simple continuation or date change.
Andrew Collier
Contemporary October 2013 reporting documents Andrew Collier’s website and petition seeking establishment of a national first responders day after the death of his brother, MIT Police Officer Sean Collier.
President of the United States
Presidential Proclamation 10482 — National First Responders Day, 2022
Senators introduced a concurrent resolution supporting designation of October 28, 2017 as Honoring the Nation’s First Responders Day. Introduction is preserved as a recognition step, not as enactment of a permanent federal holiday.
United States Senate · S. Con. Res. 15 — Honoring the Nation’s First Responders Day (introduced)
The Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 15 and the measure was engrossed in the Senate. This Senate action is preserved separately from the later presidential proclamation and is not described as a permanent statutory holiday.
United States Senate · S. Con. Res. 15 — engrossed in Senate
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
5 fields not established in reviewed sources
Predecessor and precursor observances
Earlier or merged observances are kept separate from former names and later institutional actions.
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
How to Observe National First Responders Day
Thank local firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, law-enforcement officers, dispatchers and other first responders for their service.
Support a reputable local first-responder charity, relief fund, training initiative or family-support organization.
Learn basic first aid, CPR or emergency-preparedness skills from a recognized training provider.
Use community or workplace channels to recognize first responders without sharing private incident information or interfering with active operations.
Remember first responders who died in the line of duty and support appropriate memorial or survivor-assistance programs.
National First Responders Day Facts
National First Responders Day is observed on October 28 in the United States.
Contemporary reporting documents Andrew Collier’s national campaign beginning in 2013.
S. Con. Res. 15 was introduced in the U.S. Senate on May 18, 2017 and supported an October 28, 2017 designation.
President Joe Biden signed Proclamation 10482 on October 27, 2022 and proclaimed October 28, 2022 as National First Responders Day.
A separate Senate-designated National First Responder Appreciation Day occurred on September 25, 2007 and is treated as a precursor, not as the same observance under a former date.
National First Responders Day Messages
On National First Responders Day, thank you to the people who answer calls for help with courage, skill and dedication.
Wishing every first responder a safe National First Responders Day and sincere appreciation for the service you provide to your community.
Today we honor the firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, officers, dispatchers and other responders who step forward when emergencies happen.
National First Responders Day is a reminder to recognize the people whose training, teamwork and sacrifice help keep communities safer.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Congressional Record / GovInfo — S. Res. 215, introduced 24 May 2007 for National First Responder Appreciation Day on September 25, 2007 (opens in a new tab)
Federal Register / GovInfo — Presidential Proclamation 10482 of 27 October 2022, National First Responders Day, 2022 (opens in a new tab)
U.S. Government Publishing Office — S. Con. Res. 15 (ES), engrossed in Senate 3 August 2017 (opens in a new tab)
U.S. Government Publishing Office — S. Con. Res. 15 (IS), introduced 18 May 2017 supporting October 28, 2017 as Honoring the Nation’s First Responders Day (opens in a new tab)
Thank You First Responder — National First Responders Day Program; documents September 2016 Capitol Hill advocacy and continuing annual October 28 program (opens in a new tab)
GovInfo — Presidential Proclamation 10845 (opens in a new tab)
Official Presidential Record
U.S. Fire Administration — National First Responders Day (opens in a new tab)
Official Federal Agency
Police1 — 15 October 2013 contemporary report documenting Andrew Collier’s campaign and petition (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is National First Responders Day?
28 October; recognized by USFA and presidential proclamations The documented recurrence rule is: 28 October.
Does National First Responders Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is National First Responders Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States / federal-agency and presidential recognition. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes National First Responders Day?
The reviewed sources identify President of the United States as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Andrew Collier.
Is National First Responders Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to United States. Its fuller verified scope is: United States / federal-agency and presidential recognition.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-08.
When is National First Responders Day?
National First Responders Day is observed on October 28.
Who started the modern National First Responders Day campaign?
Contemporary 2013 reporting identifies Andrew Collier, brother of slain MIT Police Officer Sean Collier, as the person who launched the modern national campaign and petition.
When did National First Responders Day become officially proclaimed?
President Joe Biden signed Presidential Proclamation 10482 on October 27, 2022, proclaiming October 28, 2022 as National First Responders Day.
Was there an earlier national first-responder observance?
Yes. The U.S. Senate designated September 25, 2007 as National First Responder Appreciation Day through S. Res. 215. This guide treats that as a distinct precursor rather than silently merging it into the later October 28 observance.
Why is National First Responders Day on October 28?
October 28 is established by the 2017 congressional recognition effort and later presidential proclamations, but the reviewed sources do not establish the original campaign’s reason for choosing that date strongly enough to assert.
Other observances on October 28
These observances are also listed on October 28, 2027.
Independent Czechoslovak State Day
Czech Act No. 245/2000 currently lists 28 October, Den vzniku samostatného československého státu, as a state holiday; Czech MFA material anchors the date to the establishment of Czechoslov…
International Animation Day
ASIFA — International Animated Film Association
World Judo Day
International Judo Federation primary sources verify the first World Judo Day on 28 October 2011, annual IJF stewardship and the October 28 Jigoro Kano birthday rationale.
“OHI” Day / 28 October anniversary
Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs