GOSHEN – The Fraternal Order of Police Jason Conklin Memorial Lodge, elected officials and members of law enforcement gathered with families of fallen police officers, Friday evening to honor them as part of the annual Law Enforcement Memorial service.
The color guard enters
Family, friends remember the fallen
This year, two names were added to the two stone monuments outside the Orange County Courthouse – NYPD Det. Thomas Weiner of Maybrook and NYPD Det. Christopher Strucker, of Montgomery. Both men died from illnesses related to their line of duty service as first responders during the 9/11 attacks.
Thomas Weiner III, Det. Weiner’s son, said it was moving for him to have his father’s name inscribed alongside all the other fallen service members on the monuments and was grateful for the showing of support from the community.
“It’s amazing that the FOP puts this together, as well as Orange County and the NYPD in this scenario. It’s incredible having friends and family show their support,” said Weiner. “It’s a wonderful feeling knowing my father was honored in such a way.”
Following tradition, all the officers who had died in the line of duty from the county had their names read and a symbolic rose placed, by a member of law enforcement or family member, at the foot of the monument where the name had been inscribed.
Orange County Sheriff Carl Dubois said he believes the memorial is wide reaching within the community.
“I believe somebody has a connection to law enforcement somewhere along the line,” said Dubois. “Whether they know somebody that has given their life in the line-of-duty, or if they know a police officer, or family member, I think that people gravitate towards this because they want to respect the officers and respect law enforcement in general.”
Orange County officials and law enforcement send out their condolences to the families of all of the officers and maintain they are committed to doing anything they can to help those officers’ families who were left behind.
