Officers remember those who gave lives in line of duty
'May time never erase the sacrifices they made'
| Wednesday, May 06 2009 08:48 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, May 06 2009 08:54 PM
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PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL
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Brandon Throne looks at plaques for deputies and other Sheriff's personnel who died while on duty including his father, Kern County Sheriff's Deputy James Edward Throne, who died in a traffic accident while responding to a call May 23, 2008 in the Lamont area.
During the Kern County Sheriff's Office Memorial Ceremony Wednesday, Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood assists Amanda Throne in putting up a plaque in honor of her husband, Deputy James Edward Throne, who died in the line of duty May 23, 2008. Her son Brandon Throne was later heard saying, "I hope these don't fill up" as he ran his hand over the five empty slots of the memorial.
California Highway Patrol Lt. Ralph Castro, left, and Sgt. Layne Logan look at the Kern County Sheriff's Memorial after a ceremony Wednesday at the Kern County Sheriff's Department to honor those who died in the line of duty.
Some of the names on the Kern County Sheriff's Office Memorial including the most recent.
She reads their names one after the other. Joseph F. English; Lansing Warren; Ray Mallory; Donald Hodges; James Edward Throne. In all, there were about 30 men whose names were called by Kern County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy RoseMary Wahl as part of the agency's peace officer memorial Wednesday.
"May time never erase the sacrifices they made," said chaplain Luis Bustillo.
The ceremony was held at the Sheriff's Department memorial area on Norris Road and drew plenty of local deputies, police officers, military police personnel and highway patrol officers, academy students, and loved ones of those in the field, past and present. Even former law enforcement personnel, like former Sheriff Carl Sparks, were there.
"This isn't a day for us just to mourn," Sheriff Donny Youngblood told the attendees. "This is a day to celebrate as well."
Celebrating, he said, the late deputy Richard McHale aka the prankster (he was shot during a family disturbance call March 3, 1989); or the quiet deputy James Lee Williams (died Oct. 19, 1991 in a traffic accident); and let's not forget the smiling, youthful deputy William "Joe" Hudnall (a victim of another traffic accident Nov. 14, 2006).
"If you look around and keep your eyes closed, you could hear the laughter of (Deputy Daniel Lee) Archuleta," Youngblood said. Archuleta died in a single vehicle accident Sept. 12, 2004.
Undersheriff Marty Williamson made reference to the memorial's latest features -- new lights and a flagpole -- and he said they'd be used to remind people of those who died while in the line of duty.
Though the ceremony took on a somber note, Williamson did note that officer deaths are on the decline nationwide.
"People owe a debt to those who gave their lives," he said.
Olivia Garcia is vice president in charge of content for The Californian and its affiliate companies. Read her blog at livinbakersfield.com.
