Yuma, AZ--The ceremony set-up is the same as if it were a burial for one of their own, the only difference is a flag stands in the middle to honor those killed in the line of duty.
"We all know that evil still lurks the earth and that there may come a day when we must lay our lives to protect our community,"Sergeant Eric Egan of Yuma Police Department said.
Dozens of people and officers from different law enforcement agencies gathered to attend the Peace Officers Memorial day service at the Quartermaster Depot.
The day is to honor federal, state and local officers killed or disabled while on duty.
"Last year May 12th our community lost two brothers, two of our border patrol agents, agent Clark and Agent Rojas," Egan said. "Those are the last line of duty deaths in the area and I prefer it to stay that way."
According to the National Law Enforcement Officers memorial fund, on average one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 53 hours.
Egan said 32 law enforcement officials have been killed protecting the Yuma area communities.
"It's been a day that has been set aside so we can honor, pay our respects and family members can remember," Egan said.
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