”Their duty was to serve. Our duty is to remember.”
Our Honor Guard exists “to remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to their community”. That statement is inscribed on the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial.
Established in 1980, our Honor Guard attends all line-of-duty death services in Washington State, British Columbia, Northern Oregon, and Western Idaho. The first such occurrence was two years later for King County Sergeant Samuel Hick who was shot and killed by a homicide suspect. Lieutenant Richard Sucee, Crime Scene Investigator David Wright, Officer Ron Parsons, Lieutenant Michael Johnston, and Sergeant David Richards were the members of the original detail at Sgt. Hick’s funeral.
We also attend funerals for retired Bellingham Police Department members and military service members from our community who died in service of our country.
The Honor Guard frequently Presents the Colors at public functions such as the annual Memorial Day Parade and 9/11 memorial services.
Members periodically travel to Washington D.C. to participate in National Police Week. While there, they assist with escorting dignitaries to the candlelight vigil, serving as part of the flag detail, and forming the Honor Cordon for the President of the United States.
“When a police officer is killed, it’s not an agency that loses an officer, it’s an entire nation.”
– Chris Cosgriff, Officer Down Memorial Page Founder
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