Ask Billie

Why were the flags at half-staff at the Wharton County Courthouse last Thursday, May 15? Did you notice? Our visitors from Bellaire, who were on the tour bus, ask who may have died.

The real reason is that every May 15 flags across the United States are lowered because that is National Peace Officers Memorial Day. On Oct. 1, 1962 President John F. Kennedy signed a Joint Resolution of the 87th Congress proclaiming the week containing May 15 as National Police Week. On that Memorial Day each year all law enforcement officers who have given their life in the line of duty are remembered.

The year 2007 was a tragic year, across the United States as well as Wharton County. There were 181 federal, state and local law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, the highest in recent history.

Sixty-eight of the deaths were from shootings. This is a 31 percent increase over the 52 killed in gunfire in 2006. Six times last year, more than one officer was fatally gunned down in the same incident.

On average, the officers were 39 years old and had served 11 years. That does not tell us the number of broken homes and the number of children who will grow up without a father or a mother.

Unfortunately, Texas had 22 fatalities, leading all states. Florida was second with 16 fatalities.

This year, 2008 is not looking any better, if the first five months of the year is any indication. We pray there will be no more. It is with pride that we will soon have a completed Wharton County Law Enforcement Memorial. This is something future generations will honor and how we hope there will never be more than the five commemorative plaques.

This can be a site where children and grandchildren learn Texas and Wharton County history. Benches are already in place where families and friends can remember. We can also take pride in the fact that planning and organizing was done by volunteers from across Wharton County, both citizens and officers. Also many of the materials were donated or made possible because of generous businesses. All monies have been volunteer donations and once again you have shown what a generous people you are.

We do not want to think of this project as finished until everything is in place and properly landscaped. There will be three flag poles: the United States and Texas Flags along with the official Peace Officers Flag. Plans for the landscaping will be donated but funds are still needed for these last two projects. In addition, we hope to have a separate account for future needs, in the event of plaques or minor repairs.

There are those who have expressed interest in being part of this project. Now is the time for those donations. A permanent list of donors will be made and we want to be sure none are left out.

Again, on behalf of the Wharton County Law Enforcement Memorial Committee, please know how much every person and every single dollar is appreciated. Drive by and take a look, even though it is not finished, it is beautiful.