I never dreamed it would be me, my name for all eternity, recorded here at this hallowed place, alas, my name no more my face. "In the line of duty", I hear them say; my family now the price will pay. My folded flag stained with their tears; we only had those few short years. The badge no longer on my chest, I sleep now in eternal rest. I never dreamed it would be me, and with a heavy heart and bended knee; I ask for all here from the past, dear God, let my name be the last.
- George Hahn, Retired Sergeant, Los Angeles Police Department

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the 32nd Annual California Peace Officers' Memorial Ceremony in Sacramento. The ceremony honored the nine California Peace Officers killed in the line of duty in 2007, as well as ten "peace officers from the past", including a constable killed on May 12, 1901.

With hundreds of officers outside the State Capital standing at attention, bagpipers played "Amazing Grace" as they led the procession toward the memorial monument. When they past, the only sound that could be heard was that of cameras flashing as the families of the fallen officers were escorted along the "Walk of Honor" to the memorial monument.

The ceremony continued with heartfelt presentations by state representatives, including Governor Schwarzenegger, a local Sheriff, who served as the keynote speaker, and the president of the California Peace Officers' Memorial Foundation. Not surprisingly, duty and sacrifice were the focus of the presentations.

At the conclusion of the ceremony was the traditional 21-gun salute, playing of "Taps", and retiring of the colors.

The memorial monument itself is a powerful symbol. It consists of three bronze figures, each approximately nine feet tall representing the more than 1,400 peace officers that have died in the line of duty. The figures depict a county sheriff from the 1880s, a state traffic officer from the 1930s and a municipal police officer from the 1980s. The figures watch over a life-sized bronze figure of a woman seated on a bench, comforting her child. The woman and child represent the grief stricken families of the fallen officers.

Reflections

Of course, seeing the families that these fallen heroes left behind deeply saddened me. But it also reminded me of how proud I am to be part of a profession so critical to society that we are willing to risk being taken from those closest to us. After all, what more honorable profession is there?