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The annual North Mississippi Memorial service was sponsored by Tippah County Sheriff Karl Gaillard and Survival Inc.
John Harmon, whose son, Lee County deputy jailer Casey Harmon, was shot to death in 1998 by a jail detainee, gave a brief history of the memorial.
Grenada Police officers placed a wreath honoring the fallen officers, who included one of their own. Capt. John Wayne Haddock, 50, died Oct. 7, 2011, when he was struck by a stolen car containing two burglary suspects on Miss. Highway 8 near Interstate 55. Haddock was deploying stop strips when he was struck. The two men now face capital murder charges.
Said Sheriff Gaillard: "We lost one of our own in 2010. This program gives us a chance to show our support to those who supported us then."
Gaillard's reference was to Tippah County Sheriff's Deputy DeWayne Crenshaw, who was shot to death while assisting on a domestic disturbance call on Dec. 3, 2010. One man has been indicted for capital murder in the case and is awaiting trial.
Northern Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley gave the keynote speech. Presley's uncle, Lee County Sheriff Harold Ray Presley, was shot to death in line of duty in 2001. He was also a close friend of Casey Harmon, and had spoken with him minutes before he died.
"We're here to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives to protect us," Presley said. "Each one taught us how to live, and taught us how to die with courage, as Deputy Crenshaw did. They showed us that their lives counted for something, helping their fellow man."
He referenced the Adam Mayes case, telling his listeners that had it not been for officers' efforts serving the public "he'd still be running loose."
The DeSoto County Sheriff's Department gave a 21-gun salute followed by the playing of Taps, and blue balloons representing each officer were released.
hank.wiesner@journalinc.com