Honoring Maryland's fallen heroes

Honoring Maryland's fallen heroes

MEMORIAL GARDENS TODAY TOHONOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANDFIRST RESPONDERS WHO DIED INTHE LINE OF DUTY OVER THE PASTTWO YEARS.

WMAR 2 NEWSHAGER HAS MORE ON THE FALLENHEROES CEREMONY.“REDUCED TO A VIRTUAL CEREMONYLAST YEAR AT THE ONSET OF THEVIRUS OUTBREAK, FAMILIESGATHERED IN PERSON HERE THISYEAR TO HONOR THE FALLENHEROES.

A GIANT AMERICAN FLAGMET THOSE ARRIVING AT DULANEYVALLEY MEMORIAL GARDENS FORTHE SERVICE, WHICH TYPICALLYDRAWS A CROWD OF 15 HUNDREDPEOPLE, BUT WAS LIMITED TOFAMILIES AND HONOR GUARDS DUETO THE PANDEMIC.

A PANDEMIC,WHICH COST 67- YEAR-OLDTANEYTOWN VOLUNTEER FIREPARAMEDIC CHRIS SCHAFFER HISLIFE AFTER HE CONTRACTED COVIDWHILE SERVING ON THE FRONTLINES.“Even just growing up.He would be in the kitcheneating.

He would jump up andrun out to a call.

I wouldsometimes go on calls withhim.

There was no give up withhim.

He knew, even with thisstuff going on, people stillneeded help” ALONG WITHSCHAFFER, PMONTGOMERY COUNTYPOLICE OFFICER KYLE OLINGER,GREENBELT POLICE CORPORALCHRISTINE PETERS, LIBERTYTOWNFIREFIGHTER MIKE POWERS ANDNORTH EAST FIRE ASSISTANTENGINEER OTIS ISAACS, JUNIORWERE HONORED, ALONG WITH APAIR OF HEROES OF OURPAST---BALTIMORE CITY POLICEOFFICER MILTON SPELL WHO DIEDIN 1974 AND ANNAPOLISFIREFIGHTER ALEXANDER JOHNSOWHO PASSED IN 1958.“Fordecades, this memorial hasstood to remind us all of thesacrifice our officers andfirst responders make.

Theywere and they still very muchare our heroes” AND VERY MUCHDESERVING OF THE HONOR ANDRESPECT, WHICH COMES WITHSACRIFICING THEIR LIVES IN THSERVICE OF OTHERS.“Just toremember these people ineverything that you do.Theylives, literally sometimes, tocome out and save somebody.They go to school sometimesfor this.

Iteverybody for them to do whatthey do and just cherish thatand appreciate the people whoare around”“As is tradition,Governor Larry Hoganproclaimed this Fallen HeroesDay and order flags at theState House and all statefacilities be flown athalf-staff, Jeff Hager, WMAR 2News”WMAR-2 NEWS PHOTOJOURNALISTPETE O'NEAL WAS THE KE