TAMAQUA — Schuylkill-Carbon Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 13 honored 85 members who died since its inception in 1941 during its annual memorial service Monday evening at its lodge in the borough’s Owl Creek section.
Financial secretary David Everly read the names of deceased members while Kristen Egan, of Hawk Mountain Highlanders, played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.
About 30 people — lodge members, law enforcement officers, friends and Carbon County District Attorney Jean Engler — attended the ceremony to pay their respects to the deceased members of the lodge that encompasses portions of Schuylkill and Carbon counties.
The ceremony opened with remarks by Summit Hill Police Chief Joseph Fittos Jr., Lodge 13 president.
Nesquehoning police Patrolman Timothy Wuttke and Tamaqua police Patrolman Michael Hobbs raised the American flag and then lowered it to half mast and Hobbs also placed a wreath at the memorial monument.
Fittos addressed those attending and said thanks should be given not only to deceased member of Lodge 13, but for all fallen officers.
A shotgun salute was given by Summit Hill police Patrolmen Brian Horos, Ryan Holohan and Todd Woodward, McAdoo Police Chief Jeffrey Wainright and Patrolman William Curilla, Beaver Meadows Police Chief Mike Morresi and Jim Thorpe police Patrolman Kyle Oliver.
The ceremony then closed with benediction by John Kast, a retired Tamaqua police patrolman and chaplain of the lodge.
Everly said Lodge 13 includes police from Port Carbon, Tamaqua, Mechanicsville, Schuylkill Township, New Philadelphia, Palo Alto, Rush Township, McAdoo, West Penn Township, Kline Township, Walker Township, Summit Hill, Jim Thorpe, Nesquehoning, Lansford, Kidder Township, Beaver Meadows, East Penn Township, Lehighton, Franklin Township and Mahoning Township.
He said the lodge conducts the ceremony every May to not only honor fallen members, but also show that their dedication to both law enforcement and their communities is never forgotten.
“It’s our way of showing them that we will never forget their service,” Everly said.