Annual ceremony honors fallen police officers

In 1966, U.S. Navy airman Jeremiah Denton, a Vietnam prisoner of war, blinked in Morse code to a television camera to relay word to the U.S. he'd been tortured.

When the POWs were released in 1973, Denton walked to the front of the plane, saying, "Lt. Jeremiah Denton, reporting for duty."

"That was a moment of greatness in this country," retired Missouri State Highway patrolman Bill Adams said, adding that same greatness was in the room Friday at the annual Seniors and Lawmen Together Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony at Cape Bible Chapel.

Law enforcement personnel and members of the community gathered to pay their respects to local fallen officers.

After a welcome by Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan and prayer by the Rev. John Harth of Immaculate Conception Church, the sheriff's office color guard posted the colors, and the Immaculate Conception Choristers sang the national anthem.

SALT secretary Doug Austin presented the winners of an essay contest open to third- through sixth-graders. A total of 569 essays were submitted from 16 schools.

First place in the third- and fourth-grade category went to Thomas Southard of St. Vincent de Paul School in Cape Girardeau. Karsyn Connell of Cape Girardeau won the fifth- and sixth-grade category. Southard and Connell each read their essays, both of which focused on police officers' heroism.

Austin said the contest tries to keep future generations passionate about honoring and remembering law enforcement officials.

"It breaks your heart at the level of understanding [these children] already have of the importance of law enforcement," Austin said.

After Adams' keynote address, the final call was issued, during which all 49 area fallen officers' names were read by Harth while their names, agencies and dates of death were projected on screens.

"The call of duty often comes at the most inopportune time," Jordan said, and the final call acknowledges the officers would respond if they were able.

The closing prayer was said by Jerry Pollard of Cape Bible Chapel.

Members of law enforcement and families of the fallen officers were invited to Cape County Park North after the ceremony for lunch provided by the Cape Girardeau Noon Optimist Club.

"We want to honor those who have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty by protecting the freedom of others," Jordan said after the ceremony, which he said also lets law enforcement officers know they have the support of the community.

"We're only as good as the citizens we serve."

kwebster@semissourian.com

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