Smith honored with fire service’s top recognition

With the weight of 500 years of firefighting tradition behind it, the Maltese Cross is no ordinary symbol. For Rep. Marvin “Mark” Smith of Berkeley County, that legacy now includes his name.

Smith was inducted into the Society of the Maltese Cross on March 26 during the South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association’s annual Legislative Day in Columbia. The honor is reserved for state lawmakers and elected officials who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the fire service. Rep.



Mark Smith “On behalf of the executive committee and more than 17,500 South Carolina firefighters, I thank Rep. Calhoon and Rep. Smith for their commitment to advocating for public servants and supporting the South Carolina fire service at the State House,” said Randy Arant, president of the South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association.

Since joining the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2020, Smith has prioritized support for firefighters in his home district and across the state. He helped secure $2 million in funding for a training center and new equipment in Berkeley County. He also sponsored a resolution designating January 2025 as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month.

“Reps. Calhoon and Smith have each been champions for the fire service during their years of service in the House of Representatives,” said Jamie Helms, the association’s executive director. “It is an honor to recognize and induct them into the Society of the Maltese Cross.

” Smith has consistently backed funding for programs such as the South Carolina Firefighter Cancer Health Care Benefit Plan, Urban Search and Rescue (US&R), and the South Carolina First Responder Assistance and Support Team (SC FAST). In addition to the induction ceremony, firefighters used Legislative Day to meet with state lawmakers about proposed legislation, including buffer zone regulations, income tax relief and the Firefighter Registration Act. More information about the Society of the Maltese Cross and other inductees is available on the South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association website.

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