Slain officers honored during National Law Enforcement Memorial tribute

By Linda Hobbs

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“You will always be missed,” said one tribute.

The National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Washington, D.C. is an effort to allow friends, families and peace officers the chance to express the mingled emotions of pride, grief and loss.  Coupled with countless tributes were newspaper articles marking when tragedy struck.

“Officers salute detective.”

“Officer killed at bank.”

“Mourning a hero and a dad: Sons told of valor of slain detective.”

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The written sentiments struggled for the right words:

“You were a good friend, co-worker and like a brother.  You will always be missed.”

“I try to be the best I can be, to honor your memory.”

“My best friend!  I miss and think of you every day.”

“We could not have asked for a more loving, devoted husband and a proud, doting father.”

“Our hero.  A loving and caring son and brother.  An officer true to his calling.  A man proud to protect and serve.  Our son.  You will forever be in our hearts.”

“Thank you for keeping watch over us every day.  I miss you, and I am so proud of you.”

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On May 15, after an 1,800 mile journey on Harley Davidson motorcycles from Colorado to Washington D.C., Fountain Police officers Larry Waugh and Corporal Moses Cho, along with Fountain city employee Raymond Vencill and I arrived at the two long, low memorial walls and gazed at engraved names of the fallen.  We were there to represent the City of Fountain and the state of Colorado in paying our respects to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their community.

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The walls were shrouded in wreaths, tenderly laid flowers, cards, photos, poems and a multitude of written farewells. It had rained the night before, and some of the tributes were damp.  Small puddles reflected the expressions of a collective grief.

The Memorial is adorned with several lion statues, to represent strength and courage.  Each statue bears an engraving:

“Carved on these walls is the story of America, of a continuing quest to preserve both democracy and decency and to protect a national treasure that we call the American dream.”

“The wicked flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”

“It is not how these officers died that made them heroes.  It is how they lived.”

The memorial represents our determination to remember and honor the fallen.  It gives those left behind hope that we still value the men and women who serve and protect their communities, even with their very lives.

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Every engraved name and photo represents so much, it was overwhelming to think of all that would never be. I imagined the families, the friends, as well as the hopes and memories crowded around these enshrined citations.

The City of Fountain shares the loss of Officer John H. Lindamood, shot and killed on Friday, April 8, 1921, when he interrupted a burglary in progress at the First National Bank of Fountain. He was 45 years old, and left behind a wife and child. We set a small PD badge in the crease of the wall, and Corporal Cho took a pencil rubbing of the name. We brought the rubbing back home to Fountain, for those who have not yet made the journey.

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Everything was hushed in a profound silence.  We stayed for some time, quietly reading the tributes, the newspaper articles and gazing at the names and photos on the memorial. It is a small, yet powerful gesture to recognize those who have lived and died with honor.

During the earlier memorial service in Colorado Springs, Fountain Police Chief Dan Corsentino addressed the hundreds in attendance, saying:

“So it is that our profession perseveres.  Since the first recorded death of a police officer in 1792, there have been more than 18,200 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, and 242 in our state of Colorado.  Their valor breathes life into our purpose, and brings clarity for our call to duty.  Their death, although grieved and forever remembered by family, friends and all of us in law enforcement, cement our bond to each other, and allows us to reflect upon the next call, the next shift, the next day, and how important we are to each other as a family of cops.”

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If you would like to contribute to the fund, please visit the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund  at http://www.nleomf.com/

~ by citywatchfountain on May 21, 2009.