AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Law enforcement officers from around the panhandle are remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Officers gathered at llano east cemetery, as part of National Police Week.
All 26 counties were invited to the ceremony that included a wreath laying, the presenting of the colors, a fly over, and taps playing from a bagpipe. It's a way to to honor those names that appear on the monument and ensure survivors that they will never forget. "Sometimes I watch the movies with superheroes but superheros are some kind of cop. If you didn't have cops around robbers would be going everywhere and stealing your money!" said Laim Driscoll, who attended the service with his mother. His mother said it was important for her to see the sacrifice that these service men and woman give so selflessly for us.
"Our children need to understand how important officers and the law is, without law we have no liberty," said Candy Kuykendall, who attended the service and escorted the Liberty Bell.
"These men and women gave their lives in protection of our communities, and that's worth remembering and worth honoring," said Joel Richardson, the Randall County Sheriff. He continued saying, "Obviously the reason we're here today is to honor the men and women whose names appear on the wall and to assure the survivors that we will never forget. That would be the ultimate goal, that the last name on this wall, remains the last name on this wall."
In 2010, nationally, 158 officers were killed in the line of duty. Of those, 17 were killed in Texas, that's more than 10% of officers.
