AUGUSTA, Maine — Behind spring's first blooms on Augusta's State Street, and in the shadow of the State House, a permanent granite reminder of sacrifice faces the daily traffic of Maine's capital city.
On Tuesday morning, that traffic was diverted as law enforcement officers from a wide spectrum of departments solemnly paraded to stand in front of the Maine Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, the 88 names etched on its wall, and their family members.
It is an annual ceremony hosted during National Police Week. Bagpipers bellowed, a Christian pastor offered a prayer, officers lowered flags to half-staff. Each of the 88 names and their departments were read aloud.
In addition to memorializing those who sacrificed their lives since Maine's inception, state and police leaders spoke in present terms as well.
Addressing the gathered crowd of officers, Gov. Janet Mills said they honored those on the wall when they responded to October's mass shooting in Lewiston.
"While Maine people sheltered in homes and in campus dorm rooms, and businesses were shuttered, silence descended on our communities," Mills said. "While you alone were on our streets risking your lives to keep people safe."
Family of the fallen were honored guests; like Charlie Black II, named for his late father, a state trooper who was killed just before Charlie was born in 1964.
"It's nice to come here and see that, as the saying goes, that my dad and the other 87 men who are on this monument; it's nice to see that they're never forgotten," he said.
Mike Robbins lost his grandfather, Gardiner Officer Ralph Chase, in 1966. He said it was his honor to be at the ceremony. Loved ones are welcome to take carnations, offered next to the monument in a vase. Robbins said, each year after the ceremony his day is not complete until he places one at Chase's grave.
With the heaviness of the day, Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck turned to police cadets about to graduate and reminded them their mental health is vital.
"That's part of being safe," Sauschuck said. "Acknowledging the reality that we're not robots, right? We're all humans and we've had some nontraditional years here in an incredibly safe state like Maine. So, take care of yourself."
Mills remarked that, while it was a somber occasion, there were no new names to add to the wall that day.