“It’s nice to have the community come out and honor the law enforcement officers and to know that they haven’t been forgotten,” Peacock said.

It was Turek’s death in the line of duty on March 27, 1985, that spurred the fundraising efforts that eventually created the Blair County Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, according to its website.

Now in its 31st year, the foundation honors those who have died in the line of duty in Blair County as well as those who once lived in Blair County and died in the line of duty elsewhere.

That was the case for Hollidaysburg resident Sharon Condron’s older brother Ronald Seymore, who was a patrolman for the Bellefonte police. He was killed at 29 years old on Oct. 19, 1971, almost 52 years ago, Condron said.

Nathan Hale (right) escorts Jessica Peacock as she lays a rose on the Blair County Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall in honor of her father, Blair Township Police Patrolman Ronald J. Turek, during Thursday’s service. Mirror photo by Rachel Foor

“He was the oldest and the first to leave home,” Condron said, who was 20 at the time of her brother’s death. “He was everyone’s hero. It was devastating.”

Being able to remember and honor her brother was wonderful, Condron said, as she and five of her siblings are still around. She said they were all recently able to reconnect with Seymore’s children in Texas.

Dozens of people had turned out for the service held in front of the Blair County Courthouse, including active duty law enforcement, honor guard, freedom riders, boy scouts and the Phoenix Volunteer Fire Department.

Blair County Sheriff James Ott introduced guest speaker state Rep. Jim Gregory, R-Hollidaysburg, who began his remarks by saying that “for some the words ‘to protect and serve’ have lost meaning over time.”

“For many, everyone here included, those words are a way of life,” Gregory said. “A noble career path and a life at that.”

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is at 814-946-7458.