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By Mark Huard
On April 25, there was a shot fired in the heart of Somerset County. Cpl. Eugene Cole, a 13-year veteran of the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, lost his life; it was a loss for his family and his brothers in brown as well.
Somerset County is used to its share of tragedy, but this hit hard. Cole was a real person who epitomized country life and honest living. He was professional and kind to all those he came into contact with. In many ways, the act took an icon in the county and brought the residents to their knees. Without out a doubt the blow hurt in a way that was all to real and gut-wrenching.
What happened next is a charge, a charge led by those seemingly the most affected. Cole’s wife, Sheryl, and Sheriff Dale Lancaster stood up, and with a battered heart, they found the courage to lead a charge. Sheryl Cole picked herself up and she brought a community together by speaking calmly and with the wisdom and benevolence that her husband lived each day of his career.
Once an arrest was made, the community didn’t stop. They began working on the next task at hand, which was to honor Cole. This charge was again led by Sheryl, who pledged to forever remain his wife and never be called a widow. She showed more courage and grace than imaginable and she rallied her family together. She ensured that they held their heads high as the patriarch of the family would have wanted, because after all if you hang your head then you better be praying.
The day of the funeral was a day of closure for many closest to Cole. The streets of the county were lined with officers, firemen, security guards, business owners, students and concerned citizens. A flag hung in the center of town and evoked through this sadness a sense of pride. Pride to be a member of this county, built on hard work and a genuine desire to be better today than yesterday.
So while this was a day of closure for Cpl. Eugene Cole, perhaps it was a day of new beginnings for the community. This county came together in a way that was virtually gone in recent days.
It’s apparent that Cole’s work was not done, it was just done here on Earth. His last call on earth, but certainly not his last call. His family and the close to 4,000 people in attendance at his funeral paid their respects to a law enforcement officer that gave his life to protect others. His family conducted themselves with dignity and integrity and again led the charge for the rest of community to follow.
TOP PHOTO: Somerset County Sheriff Deputy Cpl. Eugene Cole (Submitted photo)
