Fallen troopers honored at two emotional ceremonies in Delaware

On Wednesday, police agencies from across the State of Delaware gathered in Dover to honor police officers and troopers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The fallen heroes were honored through two emotional ceremonies, and we're told this year's ceremonies were especially tough for Delaware State Police.

Lt. Thomas Brackin, President of the Delaware State Trooper's Association said, "We lost three troopers in 2017, we lost Master Corporal Rick Long to cancer, we obviously lost Corporal Stephen Ballard [who was] was murdered, and then we lost Sergeant Rodney Bond to a sudden unexpected medical incident."

At the first ceremony, we watched as the names of fallen troopers were called out one by one.

Their family members, both young and old, got up to place a rose on the Delaware State Police Trooper's Memorial. 

At one point, we watched as a mother pulled out her breathing tubes so she could stand and deliver a rose to her son's memorial.

Sergeant Richard Bratz, the Public Information Officer for Delaware State Police said, "It means a lot to family members who come out and can see us and they know that we are never going to forget and we're always going to honor those fallen brothers and sisters and pay them respect and honor as well as the family members."

Lt. Brackin hopes these memorial services serve as a reminder to all police officers and troopers that they are one family, and it is important to support one another.

Lt. Brackin said, "It's okay to feel pride in your individual agency, but we need to make sure that the bigger picture is we are one brotherhood. We all wear different colored uniforms but we are one family, and we need to work together, take care of each other, and it doesn't matter, those petty differences really don't matter."

Wednesday's ceremonies come a little over a year after Corporal Stephen Ballard tragically lost his life in the line of duty.

Troopers honored and recognized Corporal Ballard and his wife today, demonstrating their support and fulfilling their promise that Ballard's name won't soon be forgotten.