2012 Fallen Heroes Day Ceremony

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The 2012 Fallen Heroes Day Ceremony planned for Friday, May 4, 1:00 p.m. at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens has the distinction of having the fewest honorees since the ceremony was started in 1986. The annual ceremony, which honors Maryland’s police officers and firefighters who have died in the line of duty during the past year, is the only statewide ceremony in the nation that brings together all segments of the public safety community. 

Fallen HeroesDay salutes police and correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical and rescue personnel who risk their lives everyday to protect the citizens of Maryland.

Since the May 2011 Fallen Heroes Day ceremony only one person, Trooper First Class Shaft S. Hunter, Maryland State Police, Waterloo (May 21, 2011) has died in the line of duty. An 11-year veteran of the force, TFC Hunter was killed when his patrol car collided with the back of a parked tractor-trailer on the shoulder of I-95.  Hunter, a former Marine Corps Captain was the father of six. He is buried at the Fallen Heroes Memorial.

The 27th Annual Fallen Heroes Day ceremony will begin with a procession of more than 25 honor guard units from across the state, police motorcycles and mounted units, bagpipers and drummers. Elected leaders including, Governor Martin O'Malley, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, and Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz will give memorial addresses. John Harbaugh, Head Coach of the Baltimore Ravens will be the special guest speaker and Mary Beth Marsden (WBAL Radio) will serve as the emcee. During the ceremony, TFC Hunter's family will be presented with a replica of the Fallen Heroes memorial and the families of two previous fallen heroes (one police, one firefighter) will be presented with Governor's Proclamations.

"Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens is privileged to be the home of Maryland’s Fallen Heroes Memorial," said John O. Mitchell, III, Chairman of Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. "Beyond honoring those who have died in the line duty during the past year, Fallen Heroes Day provides an opportunity for the citizens of Maryland to take time to show appreciation and respect for the dedicated public servants who risk their lives each day when they report to work."

In 1976, 330 burial spaces at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens were set-aside for fallen heroes and their spouses by John Armiger, Sr., founder of the cemetery.In 1986 John Armiger, Jr. established the tradition of honoring those who have given their lives for the community in the only statewide ceremony for fallen heroes. 

In June 2007, Dulaney Valley MemorialGardens was purchased by John O. Mitchell, III of the family-owned Mitchell-Wiedefeld Funeral Home in Rogers Forge/Towson, MD. The Mitchell family is proud to continue the tradition of Fallen Heroes Day. Sixty-five members of the public safety community are buried at the Fallen Heroes Memorial.

Keeping with tradition, Governor Martin O’Malley has issued a proclamation declaring May 4, 2012 Fallen Heroes Day inMaryland and has ordered flags flown at half-staff at the State House and all state facilities. During the service, a replica of the Fallen Heroes Memorial and a resolution from the Maryland General Assembly will be presented to the families of the fallen heroes being honored this year.

The Fallen Heroes Memorial is located within Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, 200 East Padonia Road, Timonium, MD21093.  For more information:  410-666-0490, www.dulaneyvalley.com.