On Friday, May 17, the Simpson County Sheriff’s Department hosted its annual National Police Week Law Enforcement Memorial honoring courage and saluting sacrifice.
Sheriff Paul Mullins welcomed the large crowd with opening remarks before asking Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson to lead the group in prayer. Kory White followed with the National Anthem and Lt. Jeff Smith led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Gipson served as the guest speaker and opened by thanking the law enforcement community and their families for their commitment to protecting their communities. Gipson focused on the daily sacrifices made by the men and women in law enforcement, and the dangers that they face. He said their loved ones never know if they are going to return home and he commended them for shouldering that burden.
Gipson shared a story of a farmer that was drafted into a war. The farmer had a wife and children, and his young neighbor did not. The neighbor took the farmer’s place in the war and was killed in one of the first battles. Gipson said the famer and his family buried the young man on their land with a headstone that read “He died for me”.
He said this is one example of the remarkable people who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect freedom, peace, and this country.
He closed his remarks with the Bible verse John 15:13: “greater love has no one than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Each officer’s name was then called out and Sheriff Mullins asked any family members to please come forward to receive a bouquet of red roses in his memory. These men included Sheriff Eugene Hubbard; Deputy Sheriff Earl Nunnery; Deputy Marshal Willis Hemby; Constable Willis Herrington; Constable Wilson Buffington; Deputy Sheriff William Grubbs; Deputy Sheriff James Barnett; Sheriff Lloyd Jones; Sheriff E.C. Mullins; and, Deputy Sheriff James Blair.
Ross Walton played “Taps” to end the service.
Sheriff Mullins closed by thanking everyone in attendance. Mullins said, “It is my honor to recognize these men and we will do this as long as I am here. I pray we never have to add another name to that list.”
