The late Hendersonville Fire Capt. Don Dallenbach's name stands among 288 fallen firefighters honored on the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Memorial Wall in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Dallenbach, a 32-year veteran of the Hendersonville Fire Department, was added to the Wall of Honor during the 39th IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 19. The ceremony recognized firefighters from the United States and Canada who died in the line of duty, according to the IAFF.

Retired Hendersonville Fire Chief Scotty Bush, who shared a friendship with Dallenbach stretching back more than 40 years to their days at Hendersonville High School, traveled to Colorado Springs to witness the moment. Bush was joined by retired Division Chief Jamie Cossler, Capt. Bryan Boyer and Boyer's wife, Lisa.

Bush wrote in a first-person account for the Hendersonville Standard that he surprised Dallenbach's widow, Denise, by attending without telling her in advance. He stood beside her and the Dallenbach family as Don's name was placed on the wall.

Family members at the ceremony included Denise Dallenbach; her sister, Jeanie Bandy; her mother, Patsy Osgatharp; Don's son Dylan, his wife Sierra and their daughter Saylor; and Don's son Drew and Emily Dallenbach. Another 208 families traveled from across the country for the ceremony.

Bush wrote that watching Don's name become a permanent part of the memorial brought pride, sadness, gratitude and appreciation for having known him. The Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association helped ensure Dallenbach's name was placed on the wall.

Dallenbach, 58, died Jan. 12, 2025, at home surrounded by his family after a 58-day battle with metastatic Stage IV pancreatic cancer. He served as captain on C Shift at Station 5. He was a 1984 Hendersonville High School graduate.

In late November 2024, weeks after his diagnosis, Dallenbach told WKRN News 2: "It's the best job you could ever have. Never regretted it one time. Every day I put the uniform on, I'm proud of it."

During the last weeks of his life, Dallenbach pushed for firefighters to seek cancer screenings. That advocacy carried forward after his death. In May 2025, Tennessee legislators added pancreatic, breast and prostate cancer to the Barry Brady Act, which covers firefighters for job-related conditions. The additions took effect July 1, 2025, NewsChannel 5 reported.

Bush retired from the Hendersonville Fire Department on Dec. 31, 2025, after 39 years in the fire service. He had served as chief since 2015.

The IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial stands at 1315 E. Pikes Peak Ave. in Colorado Springs, in the shadow of Pikes Peak.