“Each name we remember is a story—a story of courage and commitment. They chose a life of service, and in doing so, they accepted risks most would never take – to protect others, and to preserve the peace of our communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller. “While we are grateful that there are no new names added to the memorial this year, Fallen Heroes Day is an opportunity for us to show appreciation for those who risk their lives every day to protect us.”
“We will never forget those who gave their lives to protect and serve,” said Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr. “They were ordinary people who did extraordinary things. They were willing to risk their own safety to uphold the law and keep our communities safe.”
The ceremony honored the 43 state troopers who made the ultimate sacrifice serving in Maryland, two troopers killed while on active military duty in World War II and one fallen deputy state fire marshal. In addition to the families of Fallen Heroes, current and retired state troopers, civilian personnel, and deputy state fire marshals attended the annual ceremony yesterday to honor their fellow troopers and deputy.
The Maryland State Police Memorial Garden, a sacred location in the center of the quadrangle, is home to three monuments. The largest of the three monuments is a memorial built by the Maryland State Police Alumni Association and displays the members of the Department who lost their lives while serving the people of our state. The memorial was designed by the late Lt. John Sawa, just months before his son, Trooper First Class John Sawa, was struck and killed by an impaired driver on I-95 in Havre de Grace.
Adjacent to the memorial is a monument dedicated to two Maryland State Troopers drafted into military service during World War II who lost their lives in Europe while serving our nation. There is also a monument dedicated to a chief deputy state fire marshal from the Office of the State Fire Marshal who lost his life while serving our state.
These monuments proudly display the names of those individuals we hold in the highest regard. They are our Fallen Heroes. They lost their lives while serving others.
The Maryland Department of State Police pledge to these heroes that we will never forget them or their families and we will proudly uphold their tradition of service and sacrifice as Maryland’s Finest.
###
CONTACT: Office of Media Communications, msp.media@maryland.gov