Pennsylvania State Police Troop C holds memorial service for fallen troopers
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Pennsylvania State Police Troop C held a memorial service to honor the 104 fallen troopers of the department as well as the four that were assigned to Troop C.
Since the department's founding in 1905, more than 100 officers have been killed in the line of duty while protecting citizens with four being from Troop C. This includes Private John Henry, Private Francis Zehringer, Corporal Joseph Fulton, and Trooper Monty Mitchell.
'Privates Henry and Zehringer, the first two members to make the ultimate sacrifice on September 2nd, 1906,' Colonel Christopher L. Paris, Commissioner of The Pennsylvania State Police, said.
While the first troopers were killed in 1906 while attempting to arrest heavily armed Black Hand Society fugitives, over 100 years later, keeping their memory alive today and in the future is key.
'Forgetting would be the greatest dishonor we can show to their legacy, instead, we choose to remember,' Major William A. Maitland said.
'To give the final full measure of devotion means a great deal, and it's altogether fitting that within our organizational culture, we stop and we pay homage, and we remember those that have come before us and made the ultimate sacrifice,' Paris said.
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The memorial service also serves as a stark reminder of the oath troopers take, and the dangerous work they do on a daily basis.
'To put it out to the public to know and remember that we're here, we've given our lives to the Commonwealth, to make sure that everyone's safe. We have to pay tribute to those people who have given their lives,' Community Services Officer Vaughn Norbert said.
While it's important to not forget the fallen, it's also important to use lessons learned for the future of the department.
'We carry the legacy forward of our core mission to seek justice, preserve peace, and improve the quality of life for all,' Paris said.
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