TIMONIUM, MD—Public safety communities from across Maryland will gather on May 1, 2026 to honor 11 first responders who died in the line of duty, marking the 41st annual Fallen Heroes Day at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.
The ceremony, scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Fallen Heroes Memorial, remains the only statewide observance in the country that brings together police, firefighters, correctional officers, and emergency medical personnel. Held annually on the first Friday of May, the event serves as both a tribute to the deceased and a public show of support for those currently serving.
This year’s observance will feature addresses from Gov. Wes Moore, U.S. Rep. John A. Olszewski Jr., and Baltimore County Executive Katherine A. Klausmeier. Rick Ritter, a WJZ News anchor, will deliver the keynote speech, while longtime broadcaster Mary Beth Marsden will return as emcee…