DCHS instructor Rachel Hudgins sets the mood for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Day on Thursday with her moving performance of the national anthem.

-- Psalm 121:7,8

Rainy weather did not stop local residents from pausing on Thursday to pray for law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line and to pay tribute to public servants who have paid the ultimate price.

In recognition of National Police Week, a memorial ceremony was held from 11:30 a.m. until noon Thursday in the circuit courtroom of the Dyer County Courthouse. Originally scheduled for the Courthouse Square, the observance of National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Day was moved inside due to rainy weather.

Nick Kistenmacher, field representative of Sen. Bob Corker, center, honored Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Holt, left, and Dyersburg Police Chief Terry Ledbetter, right, with a presentation for the two departments at the ceremony observing National Police Week and National Law Enforcement Memorial Day. [Click to enlarge]

The ceremony opened with Dyer County High School instructor Rachel Hudgins' performance of the national anthem. The DCHS Junior ROTC Honor Guard was unable to present the flag, due to the tight quarters.

Dyer County Mayor Richard Hill led the Pledge of Allegiance, with Dyersburg Mayor John Holden sharing Psalm 121 and Chaplain Don Williams offering the invocation.

"Each officer leaves their home each day to serve," said Dyersburg Police Chief Terry Ledbetter in his welcoming address. "They leave their homes and family not knowing what the day will bring. For some, the day ends back home with their families. For others, the day is an abrupt end to their call of duty. This one day forever changes the families of those officers. Although none of us can ever change the outcome of that day, we can remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice."

A steady rain moved the National Law Enforcement Memorial Day observance into the Circuit Court courtroom of the Dyer County Courthouse. [Click to enlarge]

Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Holt gave a brief history of National Police Week, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and the local heroes who gave their lives to protect the residents of Dyer County.

May 15 was designated as National Peace Officers Memorial Day in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy's proclamation also created National Police Week. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan authorized the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to be built on federal land. The memorial was dedicated by President George Bush in 1991. To date, 18,274 names have been inscribed on the monument in Washington.

Locally, Dyer County has lost John Wright in 1942 and Frank Maynard in 1972.

"One hundred eighty-one officers made the ultimate sacrifice in 2007," said Holt. "Each day might be the last for an officer. We just ask today that each one of you remember the ones who have given the ultimate sacrifice."

Nick Kistenmacher, field representative for Sen. Bob Corker, was also on hand to make a presentation honoring the day to the Dyersburg Police and Dyer County Sheriff's departments.

The featured speaker for the ceremony was Dr. Bob Miller, who has worked closely for many years with the local law enforcement community.

"We are here to honor the best who have endured the worst and to prepare the best to endure the worst," said Miller, who is co-founder of the Dyersburg Police Department Chaplain Corps and current director of the Northwest Tennessee Crisis Response Team. "They do their jobs with integrity in the face of disrespect, disregard, lack of pay, lack of equipment, lack of support and tremendous criticism. And all of this is intensified by the scrutiny of the media. It isn't fair and it isn't right, but they do it because they are the best."

Miller quoted Romans 13:6, referring to law enforcement officers as "God's ministers," sharing what he has learned from his ministry to public servants in the past 17 years.

"(When we started the chaplain program) in 1991, I had no clue -- except from watching TV -- what law enforcement is all about," said Miller. "I soon realized that I had no clue what law enforcement was all about. ... It is true that there were 181 officers killed in the line of duty (this year). It is also true that 400 officers took their own lives. What's wrong? The best do not feel supported by the rest. They are isolated and alone. It seems to me that this should be the largest attended event (of the year.)

"(Some pay the ultimate price.) Some are shot, or injured in the line of duty, or bit and scratched and cursed and some are even forced to take the life of another. That's all part of the worst," continued Miller. "You place yourself in that position, voluntarily, as a law enforcement officer. We are here today to say thank you to those of you who will face the worst. We want you to know that we appreciate you and we are glad you are a part of our community."

City of Dyersburg Human Resources Manager and chaplain James Baltimore gave the closing benediction.

"Bless these officers as they travel through the night," said Baltimore.

After the ceremony, all law enforcement personnel were invited to a luncheon at Tucker Street Church.