Maryland To Honor 15 First Responders At 2022 Fallen Heroes Ceremony

TIMONIIUM, MD — Maryland is the only state to host a ceremony honoring those from all parts of the public safety community who have died in the line of duty in the last year, and Fallen Heroes Day at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens is slated for Friday, May 6, organizers say.

Fifteen first responders will be recognized, including seven who died from COVID-19.

Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford and Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski Jr. will deliver remarks, and WJZ anchor Denise Koch will be the keynote speaker.

“I am honored to be representing our administration at this ceremony, as we memorialize the men and women who died while bravely serving our great state," Lt. Governor Rutherford said. “Thank you to all of our fallen heroes and their families for the sacrifices they’ve made to protect us.”

Local broadcaster Mary Beth Marsden will emcee the event, according to organizers.

The Fallen Heroes Day ceremony will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 6. It is usually held the first Friday in May and serves as an opportunity for people to thank first responders.

• Chief Nicholas C. Finamore of the Prince George's County Fire Department died from COVID-19 complications on Jan. 5, 2021. A decorated veteran of the U.S. Army, Chief Finamore was a fire chief with more than 50 years of combined career and volunteer firefighting experience. Throughout his career, he earned numerous awards for heroic actions, including the PGFD Gold Medal of Valor. Nick Finamore was the Chief of the Allentown Road Volunteer Fire Department and the Volunteer Operations Commander for the Prince George’s County Fire Department at the time of his passing.
• Lieutenant William A. Sheffield of the Baltimore City Fire Department died on Jan. 27, 2021, after losing his battle with COVID-19. An outstanding firefighter and fire officer, the 28-year veteran of the fire service was a highly esteemed colleague and friend. Throughout his career, Lt. Sheffield was a mentor to his fellow firefighters, particularly in his capacity as a Fire Investigator and as a Safety Officer. He was stationed at Engine 35 where he remained till his passing.
• Director of Field Operations Beverly Good of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations in Baltimore died Jan. 28, 2021. Good, whose distinguished career spanned 30 years of service, succumbed to COVID-19. An expert in her field, Good was recognized for exemplary work and dedication to the mission of the CBP.
• Corporal Keith A. Heacook of the Delmar Police Department died April 28, 2021. Heacook succumbed to injuries sustained April 25, 2021, when he was brutally assaulted after responding to a fight in progress. Heacook was first on the scene and ambushed by the assailant. He was a 22-year veteran of the Delmar Police Department.
• Battalion Chief Joshua D. Laird of the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services died on Aug. 11, 2021, as a result of injuries sustained while battling a two-alarm house fire in Ijamsville. Laird fell into a basement from the first floor while fighting the fire. He was a highly decorated 21-year veteran of the fire company and recipient of the Silver Medal of Bravery.
• Firefighter/EMT Kelly W. Frye, a 26-year veteran of the City of Cumberland Fire Department passed away on Sept. 29, 2021, after succumbing to COVID-19. He began his firefighting service with Shaft Volunteer Fire Department and lent his talents as one of the designers of the 100-year uniform patch for the Cumberland Fire Department. Frye was also a life member at Frostburg Volunteer Fire Department.
• Police Officer Keona S. Holley of the Baltimore Police Department died on Dec. 23, 2021. Holley succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on Dec. 16, 2021, when she was ambushed in her patrol car during an overnight shift in Curtis Bay. Her unwavering commitment to helping others led her to a career in law enforcement. A much admired and respected member of the department, Officer Holley served proudly with the Baltimore City Police for two years.
• Battalion Chief Christopher D. Morlan, a 23-year veteran of the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services, died on Dec. 23, 2021, after succumbing to COVID-19. Morlan was a highly decorated firefighter, having received a Gold Medal of Valor, two Life Saving Awards, and several unit citations over his 23-year career. Prior to his fire career, he was an active volunteer member of the Mt. Rainier Volunteer Department Company 3 in Prince George's County.
• Police Officer Gregory M. Santangelo of the Frederick Police Department died on Dec. 28, 2021, after experiencing complications from COVID-19. Officer Santangelo, a United States Marine Corps veteran, served eight years with the Frederick City Police Department and had previously served 13 years with the Frederick County Sheriff's Office. A member of the Patrol Squad A, he then went on to become an outstanding lead instructor at the FPD Training Academy where he trained and mentored countless officers throughout the state.
• Paramedic/Firefighter Robert “Bobby” A. Jones of the Reese & Community Volunteer Fire Company died January 20, 2022, due to complications from COVID-19. A highly respected career firefighter/paramedic and engineer, Robert Jones served the citizens of our state for 40 years. His commitment to fire service started in Baltimore County when he joined the Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Co. in 1978 where he remained a life member until his death. He also volunteered at the Lansdowne Volunteer Fire Company and the Cape St. Clair Volunteer Fire Company.
• Lt. Paul Butrim, Lt. Kelsey Sadler and EMT/Firefighter Kenneth Lacayo of the Baltimore City Fire Department died on January 24, 2022, while battling a fire in a vacant row house in the Mount Clare neighborhood. On their way to the rowhouse fire, they received the dispatch that someone was trapped inside the building. The firefighters became trapped when the structure collapsed during the fire.
  • Lt. Paul R. Butrim, a 16-year veteran of the Baltimore City Fire Department, began his career as a member of the Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company. An exemplary first responder, he became a Baltimore City firefighter in 2006 and quickly rose through the ranks. Lt. Butrim was the recipient of an Award of Valor after saving a child in an apartment blaze in 2015.
  • Lt. Kelsey R. Sadler was a 15-year veteran of the Baltimore City Fire Department. A natural leader, she was the heart and soul of engine company 14. An exceptionally knowledgeable and skilled firefighter and paramedic, Lt. Sadler had also served the Phoenix, Maryland community as a member of the Jacksonville Volunteer Fire Company.
  • Firefighter/Paramedic Kenneth “Kenny” A. Lacayo joined the Baltimore City Fire Department in 2014 and epitomized excellence, compassion, and bravery as a member of Engine 14. He was also a life member of the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad where he was named Paramedic of the Year and a top ten emergency responder.
• Firefighter/EMT Wayne V. Fisher, a 9-year veteran of the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Foundation, passed away suddenly from a medical emergency on Feb. 6, 2022, while on duty at the Darlington Volunteer Fire Company. “Fish,” as he was known, was a former volunteer at the Owings Mills Volunteer Fire Company in Baltimore County. He also served in the Eureka Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company in Pennsylvania. EMT Fisher was an outstanding first responder who was deeply committed to the fire service.
• Firefighter Janet H. Holbrook, of the Whiteford Volunteer Fire Company, passed away on Feb 22, 2022, after returning home from an emergency call. The highly respected and dedicated Harford County firefighter had 25 years of service and held numerous key administrative positions throughout her tenure. She was recently re-elected to the Secretary position for 2022.

This year marks the 37th annual observance recognizing police, firefighter and emergency medical personnel.

Each year, organizers also honor one firefighter and one police officer who died in the of duty before Fallen Heroes Day began. A Baltimore City detective and Anne Arundel County firefighter will be remembered:

• Baltimore City Police Detective Richard Bosak, was fatally shot April 18, 1968, while trying to arrest a suspect who had escaped custody. Bosak, who was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division at the time of his death.
• Anne Arundel County Firefighter John F. Balcer, died on April 9, 1970, when the fire truck skidded on the way to a house fire call. Balcer was flung underneath the truck as it overturned. Balcer, who was a U.S. Army Veteran, joined the department in 1968.

“Fallen Heroes Day provides an opportunity for the citizens of Maryland to take time to show our appreciation for the men and women who risk their lives each day when they report to work," President of Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens Jack Mitchell said in a statement. "It is with profound respect and reverence that we will gather on May 6 to honor Maryland’s brave and dedicated first responders."

The ceremony will be live-streamed on the Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens Facebook page at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 6, and it will be available on the Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens website.

"Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens is privileged to be the home of Maryland’s Fallen Heroes Memorial," Mitchell said.

Honor guard units, mounted units, and motorcycle police will be in attendance.

Families of the fallen heroes will receive replicas of the Fallen Heroes Memorial and a resolution from the Maryland General Assembly. The ceremony. will conclude with wreath placement, a 21-gun salute, Taps and a flyover. A bell housed in Maryland's 9/11 Rolling Memorial will toll to honor each of the fallen heroes.