Fallen Prince George's Co. Firefighter John Ulmschneider's name added 2 firefighters' memorial. Unveiling soon @WTOP pic.twitter.com/rWiXX4kZFk
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) April 29, 2016
More photos of the memorial ahead of tonight's candlelight service @WTOP pic.twitter.com/Nepjr3wwmr
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) April 29, 2016
As a light mist falls, a service for Prince George's Co. Firefighter John Ulmschneider gets underway @WTOP pic.twitter.com/O2gESbjOKp
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) April 29, 2016
Candles are lit and @PGFD_Chief is speaking at service for firefighters killed & injured in recent shooting @WTOP pic.twitter.com/E60ZexytZH
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) April 29, 2016
The shooting happened two weeks ago at this time. Now, a moment of silence @WTOP @PGFD_Chief pic.twitter.com/yZEoeC3Bqo
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) April 29, 2016
The family of fallen Prince George's Co. Firefighter John Ulmschneider views his name on the memorial @WTOP pic.twitter.com/PDHcPtRDve
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) April 29, 2016
Lt. Ulmschneider's name (bottom right) on Prince George's County's Firefighters' Memorial @WTOP pic.twitter.com/HUDk80gmyL
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) April 30, 2016
.@PGFD_Chief, Lt. Ulmschneider's wife & family at memorial's unveiling @WTOP pic.twitter.com/VCcIuGK4Ta
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) April 30, 2016
Volunteer firefighter Kevin Swain, who was shot 4 times, attended tonight's memorial in a wheelchair @WTOP pic.twitter.com/2PxMQMqFQ7
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) April 30, 2016
Kevin Swain's mom Karen is "beyond proud" of her son, called him a hero along with all the others involved @WTOP pic.twitter.com/TB6YOx1a28
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) April 30, 2016
.@PGFD_Chief and other firefighters visit the memorial @WTOP pic.twitter.com/hKka04lbXs
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) April 30, 2016
HYATTSVILLE, Md. — Two weeks after two firefighters were shot and others were injured while responding to a 911 call in Prince George’s County, fellow firefighters and family gathered for a candlelight memorial service.
It was held at Prince George’s County’s Firefighters’ Memorial in Hyattsville, where the name of County Firefighter Lt. John Ulmschneider has now been carved in stone.
The memorial was unveiled in front of Ulmschneider’s widow, Dawn, and other family members.
37-year-old Ulmschneider, who’s nickname was “Skillet”, was shot and killed April 15 as he and other firefighters entered a home in Temple Hills to check on the welfare of the resident inside.
The man, who had reportedly been having trouble with his blood sugar, fired a handgun at the firefighters.
Two firefighters, including Ulmschneider, were hit by bullets, and two others suffered minor injuries. Investigators think the man may have thought the firefighters were intruders.
“Our folks did what they were supposed to do that night,” Prince George’s County Fire Chief Marc Bashoor told the gathering.
“I and you likely would have done the same thing. We will learn from this incident and we will rise above this chaos.”
A moment of silence was held for Ulmschneider at 7:51 p.m., the same time, two weeks before, that the call for help went out after shots were fired.
Also attending Friday night’s memorial was volunteer firefighter Kevin Swain. He was shot four times that day, but survived — and attended the memorial in a wheelchair.
His mother, Karen Swain, thanked everyone for their support, and praised her son.
“I don’t think there’s words for what I feel. I’m beyond proud. He’s a hero, and so are these kids that were involved in this,” she said.
Asked what she would say to the Ulmschneider family, she added:
“As a mother, my heart is dying for these people.”