Maryland firefighter receives Legion award

On Aug. 23, during The American Legion's 99th National Convention in Reno, Nev., Darren O. Ware received the organization's National Firefighter of the Year Award.

Ware is assistant fire chief of the Prince George's County (Md.) Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department and a 21-year veteran of the department. He is a nationally certified instructor and a dedicated teacher, and served a lengthy term as a Big Brother.

From 1988 to 1992, Ware served with the Old Guard regiment of the U.S. Army, and was a member of the Presidential Honor Guard.

On April 20, 2016 - already a hard day as the department was conducting services for a member killed in the line of duty - Ware, on his way home from his shift, took the initiative and lead in rescuing a driver from a vehicle fire.