Thousands Remember Maryland's Fallen Heroes

Gladys Falkenhan lost the love of her life when her husband, Lutherville Volunteer firefighter Mark Falkenhan, died while battling a four-alarm apartment fire on Jan. 19 in Hillendale.

While that void in her heart will never be filled, Gladys Falkenhan can say she hasn’t felt alone. That’s because she has the support and love from her extended family from the fire department that continues to be there for her and her two sons, Christian and Garrett.

Hundreds of those firefighters, along with hundreds of police officers from across the state on Friday joined Falkenhan, along with the families of five police officers who lost their loved ones, to celebrate their lives during the 26th annual Fallen Heroes Day Ceremony at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens in Timonium.

“You know being associated with the fire department that there is a brotherhood and bond that can’t be broken,” Falkenhan said. “But, I have truly learned the meaning of that brotherhood since Mark died. The love and support we have received has been unbelievable.”

About 1,300 people turned out for Fallen Heroes Day, the only statewide ceremony in the nation that brings together all segments of the public safety community. The ceremony salutes police and correctional officers, firefighters, emergency medical and rescue personnel who risk their lives every day to protect Maryland's citizens.

The ceremony began with a procession of more than 25 honor guard units from across the state, police motorcycles and mounted units, bagpipers and drummers. The event also included memorial addresses by Gov. Martin O’Malley, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein before the families of the fallen were presented with a replica of the Fallen Heroes Memorial.

Following the presentation, children of the fallen heroes placed a wreath at the memorial. A 21-gun salute and a flyover concluded the two-hour ceremony.

"Today is a day for heroes,” O’Malley said. “It's a day we recognize their bravery and their sacrifice. It is a day when we remember those whose courage called them to do the more important work there is to do in this earth, and that is to protect the lives of others.”

Honoring the Fallen

Along with Mark Falkenhan, the ceremony paid tribute to the following police officers:

• Montgomery County Police Sgt. Hector Ismael Ayala—He died on April 4, 2010 following a car crash on his way to assist officers dealing with a fight at a Wheaton area bar. He is survived by his wife Melissa, son Hector and triplet daughters born two months after his death.

• Maryland State Police TFC Wesley Washington John Brown—Based out of the Forestville Barracks, Brown was fatally shot on June 11, 2010 while working an off-duty security detail at an Applebee’s restaurant. A man shot the three-year veteran not long after Brown escorted him out of the restaurant for not paying his bill. Brown is survived by his fiancé, a large family and hundreds of young boys he mentored through his Young Men Enlightening Younger Men organization.

• Baltimore Police Officer James Earl Fowler, III—Just four months short of retirement, Brown died on Sept. 27, 2010 in an automobile accident while on his way to a training course at Penn State University. The veteran officer, a member of the force for 34 years, encountered inclement weather on the drive, which caused his car to leave the road and strike the center divider. Fowler, who was 61 at the time of his death, is survived by his wife and two children.

• Baltimore Police Officer Thomas Russell Portz, Jr.—The 32-year-old was killed on Oct. 20, 2010 when his patrol car rear-ended a fire truck stopped in the left lane of a highway. The fire truck was responding to a medical call in the eastbound lanes while the westbound lanes were being used by a film crew making a movie. Portz, a member of the force for nearly 10 years, had the U.S. Honor Flag displayed at his funeral. The flag is the one that flew over New York’s Ground Zero during recovery operations following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Portz is survived by his wife Jessica and three children.

• Baltimore Police Officer William H. Torbit Jr.—He was killed on Jan. 9, the victim of an accidental shooting by a fellow officer. Torbit, a plainclothes officer, was breaking up a large fight at a nightclub when he was attacked by a group of men. When he drew his service weapon, other responding officers mistook him for a gunman and shot and killed him. The 33-year-old Torbit had been a member of the police force for eight years. He is survived by his parents and siblings.

 Never Forget

"It is not how these officers died that made them heroes. It is how they lived," Rosenstein said.

For the families of the fallen, Friday’s ceremony brought back difficult memories and emotions as they try to live their lives without their loved ones. At the same time, they were appreciative of the respect shown to the fallen as they know their legacy will live on forever.

“It was a beautiful ceremony and I am very proud and honored that I could be here for them to recognize my son,” said Delores Torbit, Officer Torbit’s mother.

Janet Brown shares a similar sentiment as it pertains to her brother, TFC Brown. Several of the young men he mentored attended the ceremony. His brother, Sylvester, plans on keeping Young Men Enlightening Younger Men going in honor of his brother.

“We’re a close family, and it’s hard to see that empty chair at the table during the holidays and knowing he is never coming back,” said Janet Brown, who lives in Seat Pleasant. Our brother would want us to keep his organization going so that those young men that need help can still find a mentor.”

Kamenetz said the ceremony is the perfect way to remember not only the fallen of the last year, but also reflect on others who paid the ultimate sacrifice, including the three Baltimore County firefighters that died battling the Shiller’s Furniture store fire in 1984. Prior to Falkenhan's death, it was the last time a Baltimore County firefighter died in the line of duty.

“Twenty-six years is a long time,” Kamenetz said. “It is long enough to soften the edges of our pain so that we may cope and move on.

“Life is for the living. It is a good thing that time helps us heal. We must be careful because there is a difference between healing and forgetting.”