National First Responders Day is October 28
Today we pause to say something we can never say enough: thank you.
To our 911 dispatchers, who are the first voice someone hears on the worst day of their life. You stay calm when everyone else can’t. You send help, give instructions, and stay on the line until the crisis passes. You rarely see the outcome, but your steady voice is often what makes it possible.
To our Correctional Officers, who do difficult, demanding, and often invisible work. You keep order and safety behind walls the public rarely sees, and you make sure everyone, inside and out, gets home safe. Your work is essential, and it deserves far more recognition than it gets.
To everyone working in public safety occupations across Baltimore City and Baltimore County, thank you for answering the call. You work holidays, nights, and double shifts. You carry what you see on the job and then go home to your families, and you come back and do it again. Our communities are safer because of you.
A brief history of the day
National First Responders Day is observed every year on October 28. Its roots trace back to Boston in 2013, when Officer Sean Collier was killed in the line of duty in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing. His brother, Andrew, began advocating for a national day to honor all first responders. The effort gained support in Congress, with Senate action in 2017 and again in 2019, and the day is now recognized each year as a time to honor the people who run toward emergencies while everyone else runs away.
The Union Promise
As your union, we don’t just thank you once a year. We stand with you at the bargaining table, on the job, and in the community, fighting for fair pay, safe working conditions, and the respect your work deserves. Your well-being matters, both on the job and after the shift ends. If you’re carrying something heavy, lean on your brothers and sisters. You are never alone.
Thank you for your courage, your sacrifice, and your service.
2026-10-28