Ross Gallabrese REMEMBERING — Law enforcement officers from communities around Jefferson County gathered on Third Street in Steubenville Thursday morning for the annual police memorial ceremony.

STEUBENVILLE — For Joel Walker, an event like Thursday’s police memorial ceremony holds special importance.

“It’s somber to sit here and remember the people who have fallen in Jefferson County and all over the United States,” Walker said shortly after the annual remembrance was held along Third Street in front of the City Building.

“As you see with the turnout we had today, it shows that the community cares. We have to remember those who have given the greatest sacrifice for freedom in the United States, as police officers have done,” he added.

“It’s somber and it’s sad, but it needs to be done,” continued Walker, who is the city’s councilman at large and had a long career with the city’s police department before retiring as a captain.

The morning ceremony is the centerpiece of the community’s Peace Officer Memorial Day observance. Organized by Fort Steuben Lodge 1 Fraternal Order of Police and city Detective Ryan Lulla, the lodge’s president, it falls during National Police Week, which runs through Saturday.

Honored were the 10 officers who have lost their lives in Jefferson County since 1908.

“These ceremonies are very important to our departments, our community and our profession,” said city Police Chief Ken Anderson. “We must continue to honor the names of our fallen heroes, to remember their service and to pay tribute to their sacrifice.”

As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250 years of independence, it’s important to stop and remember that since 1777 there have been more than 27,000 documented line-of-duty deaths of law enforcement officers, 937 of which have been in Ohio, Anderson said. He will retire from his position later this year.

“Through loss, we persevere; through service, we prevail,” Anderson said while speaking in front of current and retired officers who made up an honor guard that included representatives from departments across the region. “This tells us, as law enforcement officers, that the best way we can honor the memory of our fallen officers is by doing what you all do each and every day. That is by putting on the badge and coming to work, doing the job that they loved — protecting the communities that meant so much to them and being a member of a department and a profession that they were proud to represent.”

Anderson said through their service, officers send a powerful message to members of the community.

“Each day you come to work, your actions tell people that at any given time, you are willing to lay down your life in service to your community,” he said. “Thank you for all that you have done and all that you will continue to do to honor the memory of these fallen officers through your service. Pay tribute to their sacrifices through your hard work and dedication.”

A bell was tolled in remembrance of Jefferson County’s 10 fallen officers: Steubenville Patrolmen Leslie McDonald (1908), Lafayette Mercer (1914), Owen Burns (1926), Lt. Scott Roe (1928) and Patrolmen Leonard Lamatrice (1972) and Thomas McGough (1972); Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Brandle (2015); Mingo Junction Patrolman William Snider (1923) and Lt. Michael J. Maguschak Sr. (1970); and Toronto Patrolman Ralph Benton Miller Sr. (1978).

“May all of the officers rest in peace, and thank you for your service and sacrifice,” Anderson said.

The ceremony included a rifle salute, the performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by fourth-grade pupils from Wells Academy and a performance of “Amazing Grace” by Glory Dami. Holden Mason, a student at Steubenville High School, performed taps. The Rev. Josh Erickson of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Wintersville delivered the opening prayer.

“This is a ceremony that carries the utmost importance,” Mayor Ralph Petrella said before the event. “This is for our fallen officers who have given everything in the line of duty — they have made the ultimate sacrifice for our community.”

Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr. was among those who participated in the ceremony.

“It’s important for us to come together during this week as we recognize the fallen officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” Abdalla said after the ceremony. “We’ve had 10 line-of-duty deaths in the county, so our thoughts are with those men and their families. It’s nice to come together with all of our local agencies as a brotherhood, a sisterhood, to commemorate and remember their sacrifices.”

His thoughts were shared by Ed Laman, whose 44 years in law enforcement included 18 years as police chief in Wintersville.

“This day means a lot to the officers in Wintersville and Steubenville,” Laman said after the ceremony. “I knew several of the officers who have passed, and it’s a day to pay tribute to the people in law enforcement.”

The local remembrance will continue Saturday, when FOP Lodge 1 holds its annual oldies concert in the Berkman Amphitheater at Historic Fort Steuben. Impulse, an Akron-based band, will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. The FOP will be accepting donations during the event, Lulla said, with that money being returned to the community in numerous ways.