Breckenridge Texan

Correctional staff, officials and guests gathered at the Walker Sayle Unit on Thursday morning, May 7, for a National Correctional Officers Week memorial ceremony honoring employees who died in the line of duty.

Rosalinda Trevino, warden of the Walker Sayle Unit, welcomes guests to the memorial ceremony honoring employees who died in the line of duty. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

When welcoming guests, Warden Rosalinda Trevino emphasized that the week is a time to acknowledge the individuals who take on the often difficult task of working in the field of corrections.

“We not only celebrate the correctional officers, but the administrative staff, the nurses, the teachers, the maintenance techs and the counselors; every one of us is a correctional professional,” Trevino said.

She said the ceremony was a time of remembrance for those who died serving in corrections.

“Today, we gather in solemn remembrance of those who gave their lives in the line of duty,” she said. “These individuals were more than uniforms, badges or titles. They were sons and daughters, friends and neighbors, people who chose a path of service, knowing the risk that came with it.”

She described their sacrifice as rooted in service rather than recognition. She said they answered calls for help without hesitation and in doing so, they made the ultimate sacrifice, not for recognition, but out of commitment to something greater than themselves, the safety, freedom and well-being of others.

Trevino told attendees that remembrance carries a responsibility beyond the ceremony and is not only about looking back, but also about carrying forward the meaning of the sacrifice made by those being honored. She said they honor them not only with words, but also through how they lived, by showing respect, supporting those who continued to serve and striving to build a community worthy of their sacrifice.

“We remember them with gratitude. We remember them with humility, and we remember them with the promise they will not be forgotten,” she said.

Judge Phillip Gregory Reflects on Faith, Loss and the Duty to Carry Forward

During his speech, guest speaker 90th District Judge Phillip Gregory shared that before taking the bench, he received a life-changing diagnosis and placed his trust in God to get through it.

Phillip Gregory, 90th judicial district judge, speaks at the memorial ceremony at the Walker Sayle Unit. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

He said he was approaching his remarks from that experience and offered a message to those affected by loss in the correctional profession.

“I hope that those of you who have been affected by loss of loved ones that were in the correctional industry and correctional profession, you could walk out of here today feeling better and understand that there are better and brighter times for you, and there are better and brighter times simply because of the sacrifice of those who have gone before us,” he said.

Gregory spoke about the leading causes of death among correctional professionals, including accidents, illness and suicide.

He reminded employees of the resources available to them. “Most of y’all are here are employed by the Texas Department of Corrections. Y’all have employee benefits. You have counselors. You can reach out to them,” Gregory said.

He closed by urging the staff to honor the fallen by how they live and serve.

“Do not mourn their passing, but enjoy their memory. Enjoy the life you have on this earth to the fullest extent possible,” he said. “Fear nothing. Stand ready to speak up for the oppressed, protect children and the elderly. Stay vigilant for the safety and security of the public, for which you serve, your brothers and sisters, for which you serve.

“You have a torch. You are obligated to pass that torch on to the younger generation,” Gregory said in conclusion. “God bless the memory of those we memorialize today. God bless those of you in this fine facility, and God bless these great United States of America.”

Rituals of Remembrance

During the ceremony, Kathy Swetnam sang “Gratitude” and “Amazing Grace.” The poems “Correctional Officer Prayer” and “Hero’s Welcome” were read by Officer Venda McDaniel and Julie Hindman, respectively.

A roll call of fallen officers, dating back more than a century, was read aloud, each name followed by “End of Watch” and the date, and a bell rang.

Then Maj. Shina Britton used her radio to call for a moment of silence. Speaking into her radio, which was also broadcast across the unit’s loudspeakers, she said, “At this time, we will stop all movement and radio traffic to have a moment of silence to honor those we have lost in the line of duty.”

Officer Misty Lawson places a Bible on the Missing Officer Table. Click here to see more photos from the event. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The ceremony also included symbolic tributes, including the placement of a memorial wreath, the playing of taps, a riderless horse, and the Missing Officer Table.

Britton explained that the riderless horse, which was escorted by Officer Mark Pilkington, is a symbolic tribute to the fallen officer. She explained that the horse is always black, wearing a black blanket, as well as a saddle and bridle, with a pair of black boots reversed in the stirrups. The practice of reversing the boots traces back to the timeless custom of reversing the order of things to honor those who have lost their lives.

During the Missing Officer Table Ceremony, Capt. Francis Cabral said the empty place at the table represented correctional staff members who had lost their lives while defending society and maintaining incarcerated felons.

Cabral explained that the round table symbolized an everlasting concern for missing loved ones, while the white tablecloth represented the purity of their motives in answering the call of duty. She said the sword stood for honor, and the single red rose in a vase served as a reminder of the lives of fallen loved ones and friends among correctional staff who continued to keep the faith.

She also described the yellow ribbon tied around the vase as a symbol of the continued determination to remember and care for their own. According to Cabral, the slice of lemon represented the bitter fate of those killed or crippled while protecting society, and the pinch of salt symbolized the tears endured by those who were missing and by families still seeking answers.

Cabral said the Bible represented the strength gained through faith to sustain those who continued on, while the inverted glass symbolized the inability to share the day’s toast. She added that the empty chair represented those who were missing.

As the ceremony concluded, Trevino reminded attendees that the work of dedicated correctional professionals often goes unnoticed, but that they play a crucial role in keeping Texas a safe place to live.”

That was followed by a closing prayer from Chaplain Robert Heidecker.

Click here to see the Breckenridge Texan’s Photo Gallery from the ceremony.

Sgt. Joshua Hammer reads the names of fallen officers while Justin Gonzales rings a bell in their honor. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Mark Pilkington escorted the riderless horse as a symbolic tribute to fallen officers. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Walker Sayle Unit Warden Rosalinda Trevino speaks to the crowd gathered for the memorial ceremony honoring falling correctional officers. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: During the Walker Sayle Unit’s memorial ceremony, Carrie Hammer presents a wreath in honor of the correctional officers who have died in the line of duty. Click here to see more pictures from the event. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)