Today is National Armed Forces Day and National Peace Officers Memorial Day

Normally on National Peace Officers Memorial Day, Flags are to be lowered until noon, but when it falls on the third Saturday, flags are to remain at full staff in honor of National Armed Forces Day, which supersedes National Peace Officers Memorial Day.

National Armed Forces Day honors our servicemen and women of the military. Established in 1949, this special day celebrates our uniformed heroes each year on every 3rd Saturday of May.

Established in 1962 by President Kennedy, National Peace Officers Memorial Day recognizes the many men and women of law enforcement who lost their lives or who were injured in the line of duty. Peace Officers Memorial Day is celebrated annually on May 15.

Statement from Governor Roy Cooper:

"We can never say enough to thank these officers and their families for making the ultimate sacrifice to protect us. However, we can honor their lives and their memories by pausing to reflect on all the ways they’ve made North Carolina a safer place."

Read Governor Cooper's proclamation recognizing Law Enforcement Officers Month and Peace Officers Memorial Day here.

Per US Flag Code, "The flag shall be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day." Therefore all flags are to remain at full staff, Saturday, May 15.

Please note, all North Carolina flag announcements are issued in accordance to regulations outlined in the US Flag Code.




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Published at 3:53am on Saturday, May 15, 2021

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Law Enforcment Memorial Day 2020 Pandemic Edition

Today is Law Enforcement Memorial Day. Due to restrictions on the number of people that can gather, there is no observance of the holiday by the local Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #81 of Macon and Jackson Counties.

To honor those who died while on duty this year, Macon Media remembers and honors those who died in the line of duty in North Carolina since the last Law Enforcement Memorial Day.





K9 Officer Jordan Harris Sheldon
Mooresville Police Department, North Carolina
End of Watch Saturday, May 4, 2019

Police Officer Jordan Sheldon was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop on West Plaza Drive at 10:00 pm.

He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

The subject who shot him fled the scene and committed suicide in a nearby apartment.

Officer Sheldon had served with the Mooresville Police Department for six years.

---

Deputy Sheriff Makeem Rictrell Brooks
Northampton County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina
End of Watch Thursday, November 14, 2019

Deputy Sheriff Makeem Brooks was killed in a single-vehicle crash while responding to a shots fired call at approximately 11:30 pm.

He was driving on Highway 158 just outside of Garysburg when his patrol car left the roadway, entered a ditch, and overturned several times. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after midnight.

Deputy Brooks had served with the Northampton County Sheriff's Office for only six months. He is survived by several children.

---

Trooper Nolan James Sanders
North Carolina Highway Patrol, North Carolina
End of Watch Friday, March 27, 2020

Trooper Nolan Sanders was killed in a single-vehicle crash on I-795 near exit 22 at mile marker 19 in the Pikeville area of Wayne County, at 7:17 pm.

His patrol car left the roadway and struck a concrete culvert before landing on its side. Trooper Sanders suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene.

Trooper Sanders had served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for five years and was assigned to Troop C, District 2. He is survived by his wife and daughter.

---

Deputy Sheriff Sypraseuth "Bud" Phouangphrachanh
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina
End of Watch Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Deputy Sheriff Sypraseuth Phouangphrachanh died as the result of contracting COVID-19 while on duty as a school resource officer. Deputy Phouangphrachanh contracted the virus at the beginning of a small outbreak of the virus affecting school employees.

Deputy Phouangphrachanh had served with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office for 14 years and was assigned as the school resource officer for the county's middle schools and high schools. He had previously served with the Candor Police Department. He is survived by his wife, five children, parents, and two brothers.

In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.


A Policeman's Prayer
(from the 2016 local observance)



Here are past years that Macon Media has been able to cover Law Enformcent Memorial Day:

2019



2018 [LINK]


2017 [LINK]


2016 [LINK]


2014 [LINK]


2013 [LINK]


2010 [LINK]

Published at 11:00am on Friday, May 15, 2020

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2018 Law Enforcement Memorial Service

The Fraternal Order Order Police (FOP) Lodge #81 held their annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service at Courthouse Square. The guest speaker was Frank Kracher, an anchor at WLOS-TV in Asheville, NC.



MEDIA ROLL CALL
(media outlets with representatives present)

Macon Media
WNCC-FM/WFSC-AM
WLOS-TV (reporter, photographer, and guest speaker)
The Franklin Press
Macon County News and Shopping Guide (photographer)
Keeping Up With Macon County
Highlands Paper


2017 Fallen North Carolina Police Officers

February 16, 2017
Major Jay R Memmelaar, Jr
Goldsboro Police Department
Goldsboro, NC

April 26, 2017
Sergeant Meggan Lee Callahan
NC Department of Public Safety
Division of Prisons

July 12, 2017
K-9 Chris
Yancey County Sheriff's Office

October 12, 2017
Correction Enterprises Manager Veronica Skinner Darden
NC Department of Public Safety
Division of Prisons

October 12, 2017
Correction Officer Justin James Smith
NC Department of Public Safety
Division of Prisons

October 30, 2017
Correction Officer Wendy Letitia Shannon
NC Department of Public Safety
Division of Prisons


FOP Lodge #81 also remembers the following officers from Western North Carolina

October 3, 2001
Master Trooper Calvin E Taylor
North Carolina Highway Patrol

May 31, 2003
Senior Trooper Anthony G Cogdill
North Carolina Highway Patrol

June 17, 2008
Trooper David Shawn Blanton, Jr
North Carolina Highway Patrol

June 28, 2008
Deputy Sheriff Robert "Bob" Killian
Macon County Sheriff's Office

October 23, 2013
Senior Police Officer Robert A Bingaman
Asheville Police Department

Event Program


Master of Ceremonies
Al Caiata. FOP Lodge #81

Invocation
The Rev. Dr. Curtis Fussell

Posting of Colors
Franklin Police Department
Highlands Police Department
Macon County Sheriff Office

National Anthem
Officer Dwayne Cabe
Franklin Police Department

"God Bless America"
Pastor Scott Eichelberger, Piper

Introduction of Special Guests
Sheriff Robert Holland
Macon County Sheriff Office

Guest Speaker
Frank Kracher, WLOS-TV

Roll Call of Fallen Officers
Steve Mason
Highlands Police Department
Vice President, FOP Lodge #81

Bell Tolled After Each Name
Gary Keppen
Cape Coral Police Department, Retired

"Going Home"
Pastor Scott Eichelberger, Piper

Placing of the Wreath
Captain Steve Apel
Franklin Police Department
Lieutenant Mike Jolly
Highlands Police Department

"Amazing Grace"
Pastor Scott Eichelberger, Piper

21 Gun Salute
Honor Guard Unit
American Legion Post #108
VFW Post #7339

Benediction
The Rev. Dr. Curtis Fussell

Retiring of Colors
Franklin Police Department
Highlands Police Department
Macon County Sheriff Office

Taps
Ashely Bishop
Franklin High School

Photographs

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2017 Law Enforcement Memorial Day Ceremony Presented by Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #81

Law Enforcement Agencies gathered to honor the sacrifice of fellow officers who fell in the line of duty in North Carolina in the past year, and to remember those who fell in western North Carolina over a longer period. Below is a video of the ceremony, the program, including a list of the fallen and some photos taken at the service.






2017 Law Enforcement Memorial Service
Presented by Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #81

Fallen North Carolina Police Officers 2016

September 12, 2016
K-9 Officer Timothy James Brakeen
Shelby Police Department, Shelby, NC

September 28, 2016
Deputy Sheriff John Thomas Isenhour
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office

November 29, 2016
K-9 Payne
Pembroke Pines Police Department, Pembroke, NC


FOP Lode #81 also remembers the following officers from Western North Carolina

October 3, 2001
Master Trooper Calvin E. Taylor
North Carolina Highway Patrol

May 31, 2003
Senior Trooper Anthony G. Cogdill
North Carolina Highway Patrol

June 17, 2008
Trooper David Shawn Blanton, Jr.
North Carolinas Highway Patrol

June 28, 2008
Deputy Sheriff Robert "Bob" Killian
Macon County Sheriff's Office

October 29, 2013
Senior Police Officer Robert A. Bingaman
Asheville Police Department


Law Enforcement Memorial Program

Master of Ceremonies
Al Caiata, Vice President, FOP Lodge #81

Invocation
Pastor Brandon Breedlove, Chaplain

Posting of Colors
Franklin Police Department
Highlands Police Department
Macon County Sheriff's Office

National Anthem
Officer Dwayne Cabe, Franklin Police Department

"God Bless America"
Scott Eichelberger, Piper

Introduction of Special Guests
Sheriff Robert Holland, Macon County Sheriff

Guest Speaker
Tim Ledford, Chief, Mint Hill Police Department, Mint Hill, NC

Roll Call of Fallen Officers
Steve Mason, Trustee, FOP Lodge #81

Bell Tolled After Each Name
Larry Miller, Macon County Sheriff's Office, Retired
Gary Keppen, Cape Coral Florida Police Department, Retired

"Going Home"
Scott Eichelberger, Piper

Placing of the Wreath
Captain Steve Apel, Franklin Police Department
Lieutenant Mike Jolly, Highlands Police Department

"Amazing Grace"
Scott Eichelberger, Piper

21 Gun Salute
Commander Neal Riendeau
American Legion Post #108, VFW Post #7339 Honor Guard Unit

Benediction
Pastor Brandon Breedlove, Chaplain, Franklin Police Department

Retiring of Colors
Franklin Police Department
Highlands Police Department
Macon County Sheriff's OfficeRetiring of Colors


PHOTOGRAPHS
(click on the arrows to flip through the photos of click the image to see the photo album on Flickr)




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Published at 4:18 pm on May 15, 2017

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2016 Law Enforcement Memorial Day Observed in Franklin

Bobby Coggins
Publisher and Editor
MaconMedia.com
May 16, 2016

FRANKLIN - This past Friday, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #81 of Macon and Jackson Counties hosted a ceremony observing Law Enforcement Memorial Day to remember those law enforcement officers who fell in the line of duty in 2015.

Mike Anderson, Deputy Director North Carolina Center for Safer Schools, was the guest speaker.

The officers remembered by the ceremony were:

Fallen North Carolina Police Officers 2015


February 19, 2015
K-9 Mako
Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office

May 21, 2015
Inspector Robert J. Bowling
North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles & Theft Bureau



FOP Lodge #81 also remembers the following officers from Western North Carolina


October 3, 2001
Master Trooper Calvin E. Taylor
North Carolina Highway Patrol


May 31, 2003
Senior Trooper Anthony G. Cogdill
North Carolina Highway Patrol


June 17, 2008
Trooper David Shawn Blanton Jr.
North Carolina Highway Patrol


June 28, 2008
Deputy Sheriff Robert “Bob” Killian
Macon County Sheriff’s Office


October 29, 2013
Senior Police Officer Robert A. Bingaman
Asheville Police Department



Video and a photo essay of the ceremony follow.
Click on the images to see them at a larger size, then you may navigate through them using the right and left arrow on your keyboard.

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