Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony honors fallen local officers from Salina
Posted May 15, 2024 11:16 PM
Salina Police Department Chief C. J. Wise welcomes the audience to the Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony Wednesday morning at Jerry Ivey Memorial Park. The memorial ceremony remembered the 137 fallen officers in 2023 alongside the four officers the Salina community has lost throughout the years. "Whenever you lose an officer, it's devastating to a family. It's devastating to a community, it's devastating to a police department," Wise said. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier
By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Lead Reporter - Salina Post
Surrounded by community members, fellow officers and local officials, Salina's local authorities visited Jerry Ivey Memorial Park early this morning for a solemn ceremony — the Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony.
The memorial began beneath the Salina Fire Department's giant American flag near the Jerry Ivey memorial site in the park.
Local Salina Police Department officers, Saline County Sheriff's Office deputies, Kansas Highway Patrol troopers and Salina Fire Department firefighters joined the ceremony, representing the various authorities in and around Salina.
The Salina Fire Department brought its giant U.S. flag to mark the entrance to the Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday, May 15, at Jerry Ivey Memorial Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier
At the ceremony, the Salina Police Honor Guard presented a "Table Setting for the Fallen," with each member piecing it together while Cpl. Timothy Wymore spoke on each piece of the table.
Salina Police Department officers and Saline County Sheriff's Office deputies line up in Jerry Ivey Memorial Park during the Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday, May 15, in Salina. Photo by Olivia BergmeierSalina Police Honor Guard Officer Lonna Savage salutes after setting a single rose on the table setting, symbolizing "the danger our fallen officers went through," said Salina Police Honor Guard Cpl. Timothy Wymore during the Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday, May 15, at Jerry Ivey Memorial Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier
The rest of the pieces included a Bible, a blue ribbon, a lemon with salt and an inverted wine glass.
"The first item placed on the table will be The Bible, open to Psalms 91. The protection Psalms represents the strength gained through our faith in God who sustains and protects us," Wymore said.
The rose symbolizes the danger faced by fallen officers; the blue ribbon represents trust and loyalty to fellow officers; the lemon slice with salt represents "the bitter taste" of losing service members; and the inverted wine glass represents the inability of fallen service members to participate in future toasts.
Bagpipe player Terry Ferguson plays "Amazing Grace" after the "Table Setting for the Fallen" presentation during the Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday, May 15, at Jerry Ivey Memorial Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier
City of Salina Mayor Bill Longbine spoke to the audience about the community focus of the local authorities once Terry Ferguson finished "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes.
"Officers are asked to have the utmost level of restraint and self-control while being able to make split-second decisions to save the lives of those around them as well as their own," Longbine said. "Last year, there were 118 law enforcement officers killed. Even though this is a 49% reduction from 2022, it is still 118 too many."
City of Salina Mayor Bill Longbine addresses the audience at Jerry Ivey Memorial Park during the Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday, May 15, in Salina. Photo by Olivia BergmeierSalina Police Honor Guard members shoot blanks as a salute to fallen officers during the Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday, May 15, at Jerry Ivey Memorial Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier
Saline County Sheriff's Office Lt. Mike Smith presented the Roll Call of the Fallen, naming each officer killed in the line of duty in Salina.
Gary Keil plays "Taps," concluding the Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday, May 15, at Jerry Ivey Memorial Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier
The ceremony coincides with National Police Week, where communities celebrate and memorialize local authorities across the United States.
Salina Police Department officers, Saline County Sheriff's Office deputies and Kansas Highway Patrol troopers bow their heads while Smoky Valley Baptist Church Pastor Jeff Quigley offers a prayer during the Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday, May 15, at Jerry Ivey Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier
