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By Bill Van Tassel
AUGUSTA — Wearing crisp uniforms, a couple hundred law enforcement officers gathered at the granite memorial wall near the Maine State House May 17 for the annual service held to honor all those serving in the various branches of law enforcement, especially the 84 officers who have lost their lives while serving Maine.
Officers from all over the state included members of the state police, county sheriffs, municipal police and game wardens. They were led in their march up Union Street to the Memorial Wall by a group of bagpipers and joined by several dozen new officers, who would graduate from the Criminal Justice Academy later that day.
A small group of cyclists from the Lewiston and Auburn police departments arrived at about 45 minutes early for the 11 a.m. ceremony after a 35-mile ride with police escort.
Chief Robert M. Schwartz, executive director of the Maine Chief of Police Association, was the master of ceremonies. The Rev. Gregory Dube, chaplain, recited the Invocation, after which Portland Police Officer Jeremy Turner sang the national anthem. Later in the program, one of the bagpipers played “Amazing Grace” and “Going Home.”
Gov. Paul LePage was the keynote speaker. He offered some heartfelt remarks, making special mention of Maine’s most recent losses in police work. He acknowledged the Desjardins and Cole families who lost loved ones within the last twelve months.
Fryeburg policeman Nathan Desjardins died from a serious head injury he obtained while attempting to rescue a woman who had capsized her boat on the Saco River last June. Though Desjardins’ name was the most recent addition to the Memorial Wall, the granite will soon have the name of Eugene Cole of the Somerset County Sheriffs’ Department. Cpl. Cole lost his life from a gunshot wound he sustained while on duty in Norrwidgwock in April.
LePage thanked all the officers like them “who take a risk each day they leave their homes.” He told the attending crowd that the sacrificial service of these officers will never be forgotten. “We owe you special thanks every day.” Several members of the Cole and Desjardins families were present at the ceremony.
The Honor Guard presented a 21-gun salute followed by the flag lowering as taps was sounded by the Maine Army National Guard.
PHOTO: Children and teachers from the YMCA Learning Center in Augusta enjoy snack time at the edge of Capitol Park after seeing dozens of police and warden personnel march by for the annual Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony in May. (Bill Van Tassel photo)
