Ranger Joseph Allen Carr Memorial
Columbia, Howard County, Maryland
Marker Inscription
Maryland Ranger Joseph Allen Carr Died in the line of Duty April 13, 1978 Preserving the peace and dignity of our State, while protecting its natural and cultural resources. Patapsco Valley State Park
The Story
Patapsco Valley State Park is one of Maryland's oldest state parks, tracing its origins to the early 1900s conservation movement that set aside the wooded gorges of the Patapsco River for public use. Protecting such places is quiet, unglamorous work, and it falls to state rangers to safeguard both the land and the historic mills, bridges, and railroad traces scattered through the valley. This memorial marks the death of Maryland ranger Joseph Allen Carr, who was killed in the line of duty on April 13, 1978, while carrying out that charge.
Why it matters
It is a rare marker that honors the everyday guardians of America's public lands, reminding visitors that preserving the nation's natural and cultural heritage has sometimes carried a personal cost.
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Related people
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