Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial

Flags across Colorado were lowered to half staff on Friday, May 2, 2008 to honor Colorado Law Enforcement Officers killed in the line of duty.  The first Friday of May is set aside annually for the Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony on the grounds of the State Patrol Academy at Camp George West in Golden.   

The weather forecast was gloomy.  Cold, possible rain, maybe some snow and some wind added for good measure.  I got up early and saw that it wasn't raining (yet) or snowing (yet), so made the decision to ride to Golden for the ceremony.  

It was cold and it was windy, but as I rode south, I looked back over the Flatirons and saw a little sliver of blue sky just ahead of what looked like a snow storm over the foothills.  A thin blue line at my back.  I rode on.  

The wind continued to blow, but the sky cleared a bit for part of the ceremony. Bagpipes wailed, speeches were read, kind words were said.  214 doves were released, followed by 5 more. 219 names on the Memorial now.  Taps and 21 guns rounded out the ceremony.

Five names were added to the Memorial this year. Two from 2007 and three from previous years:

J. Horace Frisbie, Night Marshall, Lamar. Killed December 26, 1906
Charles E. Gibbs, Deputy Sheriff, Routt County. Killed March 21, 1929
John Armour Stitt, Town Marshall, Paonia. Killed September 27, 1952
Douglas D. Byrne, Officer, Aurora. Killed March 26, 2007
Zachariah Earl Templeton, Trooper, Colorado State Patrol. Killed October 12, 2007

Riders from the Aurora Police Department will ride to honor Doug's memory.  I'll be riding for Zach.