A day to honor fallen heroes

Senator Bill Frist
05/16/2005

Sitting here late on a peaceful Sunday night.

Reflecting on what was a sad -- and sacred -- day here in Washington. I joined President Bush and tens of thousands of law enforcement Officers gathered this afternoon on the West Front of the Capitol at the 24th Annual Peace Officers Memorial Service to honor officers killed or disabled in the line of duty last year.

America lost 156 Officers in 2004. They were mothers and fathers. They were sons and daughters. They were brothers and sisters. Seven of them were from Tennessee ...

Sergeant Andy Thaddeus Bailey of Jackson;
Officer Christy Jo Dedman of Nashville;
Patrolman Timothy Howard Dunn of Shelby County;
Patrolman J. Matthew Rittenhouse of Harriman;
Deputy Sheriff Jason Michael Scott of Lenoir City;
Patrolman Marlon Allen Titus of Memphis;
Officer Mark Edward Vance of Bristol.

I was privileged to spend some time with the courageous, surviving families of these Officers. They were all heroes. There are 850,000 Officers just like them serving communities all across America. And, tonight, some of them will leave their family to start a shift. They will be on the front lines ... defending our neighborhoods and protecting our families.

Day in and day out we call on these dedicated professionals to save us from harm. And each time, they take the risk that our distress call could be their last.

Their calling is noble; their service honorable.

So take a moment this evening to appreciate and pray for these Officers, their families and friends. We were made safer by their service and we share in the suffering of their tragic loss.


Bill Frist

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