Mourning a Fallen Hero

I was saddened to hear about the death of volunteer firefighter Mark Falkenhan of the Lutherville Volunteer Fire Company last evening. Mark, a husband and father of two, died in the line of duty while fighting a blaze in Towson. Several people were rescued from the fire.

Mark was a dedicated public servant, continuing as a volunteer after a long career with the Baltimore County Fire Department. He has worked for the Secret Service as an emergency services specialist since 2006, training colleagues to respond to life-threatening incidents.

It takes a special person to dedicate their entire career to protecting others at the risk of their own life. I just spoke about the legacy of service and volunteerism of Dr. Martin Luther King at an event this morning. Mark lived these values every day and will continue to be an inspiration to future generations of firefighters. Baltimore County is a better place because of him.

My thoughts and prayers are with Mark’s family and the entire Baltimore County fire community.