As they have for the past eight years, members of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department hosted the annual memorial service on May 27 in front of the Sheriff’s Department in Winamac.
This ceremony is held to honor the memory of three fallen officers from the Pulaski County police force. The department recognized Sheriff Charles Henry Oglesby, Sheriff Milo “Mike” Lewis and Deputy Sheriff Shadron Kiley “Shad” Bassett who were all tragically lost in the line of duty. Family members received honorary license plates from the station.
Lori Stout sang a heart warming rendition of “The Dream We Left Behind”. Next, the Zupin brothers, Zen, 16, and Roman, 13, played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes. Then there was a 21-gun salute followed by “Taps” played by Winamac resident Rick Dilts. Following the ceremony Sheriff Gayer shared his opinion on the importance of recognizing these brave men each year.
“This departments lost three since the department was formed some 175 years ago and it’s just tradition in law enforcement and the military to remember those who have fallen in the line of duty,” said Gayer. “It was instilled in me as a young trooper to remember those people who gave those sacrifices. So when I became sheriff I went out and got donations for the monument and each year we gather here on this day and remember those officers.”
