Thursday, May 21, 2009
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Members of local law enforcement agencies and government came together for a service to honor fallen officers.
YOUNGSTOWN — Bagpipes were played, heads lowered in prayer and roses placed in observance as police officers from the area, state and other parts of the country honored their fallen comrades.
The “Annual Fallen Officers Memorial” sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police Youngstown Lodge 28 was today at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. The memorial coincides with National Peace Officers Week which began May 15.
Police cruisers from a host of departments were parked outside the church. Inside were enlarged photographs of 21 of the 24 officers killed in the line of duty in Mahoning County since 1891.
Retired Detective Sgt. Elrico Alli, president of Lodge 28, said he was fortunate to have known seven of the men being honored. He said the annual event is all about those men memorialized in photos at the front of the church and the families they left behind.
“The guys, over the years, who have lost their lives for the community we want to make sure they are remembered, That is our theme, remembering fallen officers,” he said. “We are particularly grateful to the families for coming out.”
For more on this story see Thursday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com.