Peace Officer Memorial services meaningful

STEUBENVILLE -- The fanfare that has marked the city's previous Peace Officer Memorial services was, by necessity, lacking, but those who participated Tuesday said that didn't make it any less meaningful.

"It was very different," said 6th Ward Councilman Bob Villamagna, who served as a member of the city's police department before his retirement. "Usually, we have it over at the fort and all of our police officers are present and all our city council members are present. This year we couldn't do it that way because of social distancing (requirements). We'll just have a bigger once next year."

Gov. Mike DeWine has eased restrictions that forced non-essential businesses to close and the public to stay home for more than six weeks to slow the spread of COVID-19, but crowd sizes are still limited and other protections, like social distancing, are encouraged.

So this year, city police were represented by only two members -- Steubenville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 1 President Jim Marquis and his FOP secretary, Patrolman Brian Lulla, with Villamagna, 5th Ward Councilman Willie Paul and City Manager Jim Mavromatis also in attendance.

Marquis said the national and state observances were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, and a number of communities are either practicing social distancing or canceled them altogether.

"I appreciate them taking the time to remember and coming down here on their own," he said.

Lulla said the annual observance "commemorates the fallen, to (remember) those who came before us and the sacrifices they made."

Locally, that list includes Steubenville Patrolman Leslie McDonald (1908), Patrolman Lafayette Mercer (1914), Patrolman Owen Burns, (1926), Lt. Scott Roe (1928), Patrolman Lenard Lamatrice (1972) and Patrolman Thomas McGough (1972); Mingo Junction Patrolman William Snider (1923) and Lt. Michael J Maguschak Sr. (1970); Toronto Patrolman Ralph Benton Miller Sr., (1978) and Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Brandle (2015).

Council's resolution, read by Villamagna, notes how important it is that residents "know and understand the duties, responsibilities, hazards and sacrifices." It also reflects on sacrifices made by officers "who, through their courageous deeds…made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their community or (became) disabled in the performance of duty."

Marquis encouraged residents to join the "Light Ohio Blue" campaign, replacing the bulbs in their outside lights with blue ones meant to honor police, including those who died in the line of duty. He said M&M Hardware is stocking blue bulbs, regular and LED, as well as spotlights.