Jun 12, 2015

In 1976, Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens founder John Armiger Sr. set aside 330 burial spaces for members of the Maryland public safety community who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Ten years later, his son John Armiger Jr. created Fallen Heroes day, an annual ceremony that formally honors them and their families. Over the years, 171 fallen heroes have been honored since that first ceremony in 1986. Of those, 100 have been law enforcement officers and 71 have been fire fighters. Ten are women.

: On June 12, 2015 the 30th Fallen Heroes Ceremony was held at Dulaney Valley Gardens. This is the Fallen Heroes Memorial, which honors Maryland police, correctional officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians and rescue personnel who have died in the line of duty. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is the grave of Baltimore County Police Sergeant Bruce A. Prothero, 35. He was shot and killed on February 7, 2000 while working a second job as a security guard at a jewelry store. Two suspects robbed the store, and while pursuing them, he was shot twice, then was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was a 13 year veteran of the police department and was survived by his wife and five young children, including triplets. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is the grave of Trooper First Class Shaft S. Hunter, 39, of the Maryland State Police. He was killed on May 21, 2011 when his patrol car collided with the back of a tractor trailer that was parked on the shoulder of I-95 in Howard county. It is believed that he was pursuing a speeding motorcycle when the collision occurred. Trooper Hunter was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the State Police for 11 years. He was survived by six children, his parents, two brothers, and many other family members. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: At Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, Battalion Chief Tommy Kimbel (retired from the Baltimore County Fire Department) touches the grave of his brother, James Kimbel, also a Baltimore county firefighter, who was one of three firefighters killed in the Shiller furniture store fire in 1984 and who were the inspiration for the Fallen Heroes Memorial which is holding its 30th ceremony this year. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is the grave of Deputy Sheriff Jason C. Schwenz, 28, of the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Department. He and fellow Officer Michael Nickerson were shot and killed on February 13, 2001 after responding to a noise complaint at a mobile home. They had been given permission to enter the residence by the suspect’s mother, who lived across the street. When the officers opened the door, the suspect opened fire with a shotgun, striking both officers. Deputy Schwenz had been a sheriff’s deputy for 18 months and was survived by his fiancee, parents and brother. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is a detail from the grave of Officer Grant F. Turner, 24, of the Maryland Transportation Authority police department. (Visitors to the gravesites often leave meaningful mementos, such as this baseball. ) Officer Turner was attending officer candidate class of the MDTA police academy and was participating in a 5K run to honor fallen MDTA police officer Duke G. Aaron III, who was killed in the line of duty. Officer Turner collapsed after completing the race and died later that morning, on July 16, 2005. He was survived by a fiancee, his parents, a brother and sister. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is a bench located at the entrance to the Fallen Heroes Memorial. It was commissioned by the Mitchell family, the current owners of Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, in honor of John Armiger Jr. and his father John Armiger Sr. The bench was designed by members of the public safety community in appreciation of the Armigers’ efforts in providing 330 burial spaces for members of their community and starting the Fallen Heroes annual ceremony. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is a detail from the grave of Officer Jamie A. Roussey, 22, of the Baltimore City police department. He was killed in an automobile accident on October 20, 2010 when his patrol vehicle collided with another car as he was responding to assist a fellow officer who was involved in a foot pursuit. He came from a law enforcement family, where his father, brother, uncle and cousin were Baltimore police officers. He served as an officer for one year and was survived by his parents and seven siblings. (Visitors to the gravesites often leave meaningful mementos such as this Guinness bottle cap. ) (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is the grave of Officer Thomas R. Portz Jr., 32, of the Baltimore City police department. He was killed in an automobile accident on October 20, 2010 when his patrol car struck the back of a stopped firetruck that was responding to an injured persons call in the left lane on a highway. Officer Portz had served with the department for 10 years. He was survived by his wife and three children. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is a detail from the Fallen Heroes Memorial. The founder of of the cemetery John Arminger Sr. set aside 330 burial spaces for members of the Maryland public safety community who lost their lives in the line of duty in 1976. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is the grave of Corporal Courtney G. Brooks, 40, of the Maryland Transportation Authority police department. He was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver on I-95 in Baltimore city and died on January 1, 2008. He was part of the agency’s commercial vehicle safety unit and was setting out cones to keep commercial vehicles out of downtown during New Year’s celebrations. He had served with the department for 13 years and was survived by three children and a fiancee. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is the grave of Officer Hector I. Ayala, 31, of the Montgomery County Police Department. He was killed on April 4, 2014 in an automobile accident while responding to assist another officer at the scene of a fight in Wheaton. He served as an officer for seven years and was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was survived by his wife, son, and triplet daughters who were born after his death. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: These are replicas of some of the badges of police and firefighters honored on the Fallen Heroes Memorial. June 12, 2015 is the 30th celebration of Fallen Heroes Day at the Fallen Heroes Memorial at Dulaney Valley Gardens. The memorial honors Maryland police, correctional officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians and rescue personnel who have died in the line of duty. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is the grave of Jason Lee Schnieder, 36, a Baltimore county police officer who was shot and killed on August 28, 2013 while part of a tactical team serving a search warrant at a home in Catonsville. He was a Marine corps veteran and served 13 years as a police officer. He was posthumously awarded the department’s Medal of Honor and was survived by his wife and two children. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is the grave of 25 year old Baltimore county volunteer firefighter Gene M. Kirchner, who died on May 2, 2013, eight days after being critically injured while fighting a house fire and attempting to rescue a resident who was trapped inside. Although he was only 25, firefighter Kirchner had been associated with the Reisterstown fire company for 10 years, having joined the ranks at age 14 as a junior firefighter. He also worked as a dispatcher for Butler Medical Transport. He was survived by his siblings and parents. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is a detail from the Fallen Heroes Memorial listing some of the names of those who lost their lives in the line of duty. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is the grave of Maryland State Police Corporal Theodore D. Wolf Sr., 40. He was shot and killed on March 29, 1990 during a traffic stop on I-95 in Jessup. He approached the driver of the vehicle, which was stolen and had not yet been reported. The driver of the car shot and killed Corporal Wolf when he issued him a warning. Corporal Wolf served with the state police for 16 years and was survived by his wife and three children. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is the grave of Eric Dorian Schaefer, 25, a Baltimore city firefighter who was killed in the line of duty on September 16, 1995 when a two-story granite wall collapsed on him while he was fighting the 10-alarm Clipper Mill Industrial Park fire. He also served as a paratrooper with the Army Reserve and was survived by his wife, parents and two brothers. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is a detail from the Fallen Heroes Memorial at Dulaney Valley Gardens. One hundred law enforcement officers and 71 firefighters have been honored. Ten are women. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is the grave of Baltimore city police officer Crystal D. Sheffield, 35, who was the city’s first female officer to die in the line of duty, on August 22, 2002. She was rushing to a call for help from a fellow officer when her police cruiser was struck by an unmarked police car responding to the same call. She was assigned to the western district and served three years and was survived by her husband and son. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is the grave of Baltimore police officer Anthony A. Byrd, 31, who was killed on May 19, 2006 in an automobile accident near the intersection of Parksley and Stafford Streets. He was returning to the station house when his car was struck by another patrol car that was responding to a call for help from another officer. He served for 11 years in the southwestern district and was survived by his wife and two young daughters. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: This is a view of the Fallen Heroes Memorial. June 12, 2015 is the 30th celebration of Fallen Heroes Day at Dulaney Valley Gardens. Over the year, 171 fallen heroes have been honored since the first ceremony in 1986. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

Battalion Chief Thomas J. Kimbel, now retired from the Baltimore County fire department, lost his brother James in the1984 Shiller furniture store fire in Dundalk. That fire also claimed the lives of fire fighters Walter J. Bawroski and Henry Rayner Jr., and was the inspiration for Fallen Heroes Day.

Mr. Kimbel summed it up best when he said: “For the past 30 years we have gathered to pay our respects to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our State. Many years ago my family and I sat in the front row and heard my brother’s name called out along with Walter and Henry. It was the most surreal moment in our lives. We have moved back in the rows over the years, and listened to too many names called out. We feel the pain and the tremendous loss. It gets a little better through the years, but you must never forget what so many have given. We thank Dulaney Valley for helping everyone, that special day, to gather together and to never forget.”

Remembering the fallen heroes

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