LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — The Lee County Sheriff’s Office will hold its annual Fallen Deputy Memorial on Thursday.
The memorial is being held at the Next Level Church on Plantation Road in Lee County, between Metro and Six Mile Cypress parkways. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.
WINK News reporter Eric Lovelace is at the scene. The day serves as a meeting place between grief for what families have lost and pride for the lives of their family members being remembered.
Different families who have lost their loved ones will be able to gather with others who have gone through the same thing. Officers’ faces will be shown on the board, and their names read aloud so everyone there can be reminded of their sacrifice and never forget the price they paid.
Family members will place roses for their fallen family members. WINK News spoke to a family member who lost his brother more than 40 years ago.
“They can see the family members of people who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice. And we’re all a family, the law enforcement community. They are all a family,” said Donnie Fewell, brother of a fallen officer.