Grand Forks Honors Fallen Officers

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People gather outside Grand Forks County courthouse in remembrance of fallen officers.

The annual service is part of a week of national remembrance designated by President Kennedy in 1962.

Families, friends and Grand Forks officers remember the brave men and women who gave their lives for the sake of others.

14 different agencies, two states and two countries honor 42 fallen officers for making the ultimate sacrifice.

Co-Chair Cpl. LaVonne Nelson says, “When you go to work every day, you plan on going home to your family. So it’s a chance for us to pay our respects to those who were unable to go home to their families.”

Operations Officer Alan Zeitvogel says, “We’re memorializing and honoring our partners, the guys who have our backs when we’re out doing the job and they’ve paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

It was a special day for all those attending the memorial.

Nelson says, “I don’t think of the danger when I’m working. I think of the danger when I watch the news and realize that something bad happened to our community or one of our fellow officers across the United States.”

Zeitvogel says, “For any law enforcement families or military families, we recognize the military today as well who have lost a loved one. Although we don’t always show it they are in our hearts.”

It’s a service that attending officers say tugs at their heart strings.

Nelson says, “The roll call, the bell chime, taps and the ‘Amazing Grace’ after taps; that’s the part that makes it real.”

Zeitvogel says, “Typical law enforcement and military funeral. It’s the same concept.”

Grand Forks Police Week will continue with various events at the Grand Forks Air Base and Fargo’s Police Week Memorial Service will be this Friday.