Blair Township Police Chief Roger Peacock escorts his wife, Jessica, as she places a flower in honor of her father, Patrolman Ronald J. Turek of the Blair Township Police Department, who died in the line of duty in March 1985. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

HOLLIDAYSBURG — One late summer day in September 2008, police Sgt. Michael Weigand kissed his wife and daughter goodbye and headed off to work.

“I didn’t know I would never see my dad again,” said Lanie Weigand, whose story of a little girl’s heartbreak brought tears to the eyes of those who braved the rain Thursday evening for the annual Blair County Law Enforcement Memorial Service.

Michael Weigand was just 25 years old when he was hit head-on while escorting a charity ride as a member of the Latimore Township Police Department on Sept. 14, 2008.

His daughter, now a sophomore at Penn State University studying psychology with a focus in trauma, opened up about her struggle to forgive her dad for leaving his family.

Her story resonated with Blair County Sheriff James Ott, president of the Blair County Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Foundation, the organization that brought Weigand in as the featured speaker.

“I sat there with tears in my eyes” during her speech, Ott said.

As a dad himself, Ott said he “felt what she was saying.”

Lanie Weigand said she asked many questions over the years, some directed at her dad.

“Why did my dad choose to ride the bike that day? Why do I have to sit here in my empty house and stare at your folded flag on my wall when I could be staring at your face,” she said, looking out over the dozens of law enforcement officers, families and friends gathered in front of the Blair County Courthouse.

Over time, Weigand was able to come to terms with her father’s death, but she admitted that doing so was difficult.

“Grief has its highs and its lows,” she said. “You try to understand why something so terrible can happen to such an extraordinary person.”

Eventually, Weigand found herself being proud of her father instead of angry that he left too soon.

“I hope he knows I am proud to be called his daughter and to know that I had a dad that put others before himself,” she said. “I am so proud of the husband and the father he was to my mother and me.”

Following Weigand’s speech, a roll call of fallen heroes was given naming each person on the memorial. As names were called, family members laid red roses on the monument.

A new name was added this year, that of Chief William E. Whiteman, a member of the Vesta Coal Police and former Altoona officer who died on Jan. 14, 1920.

Whiteman’s family informed the memorial foundation of his service.

Janis Fiore, who came to the event to honor her fallen grandfather, said the community support was wonderful.

“It means a lot to us to have this service and my grandson, Daniel Eastep, participating where my grandfather left off,” Fiore said.

“There’s no other feeling to this type of support,” added Elise Eastep, who also came to honor her grandfather. “You just feel so great.”

The Blair County Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Foundation was created in March 1985 to honor the death of fallen Blair Township patrolman Ronald J. Turek. Now, the organization works to support local officers currently serving, as well as remember local officers who died in the line of duty.

“This organization was created to be able to honor those that gave the ultimate sacrifice, and more so for their families,” Ott explained. “And so, given that sacrifice, this is the least we can do.”

In the midst of grieving someone lost in the line of service, the foundation allows for affected Blair County residents to come together and develop a sense of support within a community.

“Besides my dad, we are here to honor so many men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” Weigand said. “Always remember that your loved ones and their guidance — as my dad has with me — will follow you throughout your life. They are all so proud of the lives that we have lived.”

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.