That was the message from Col. Al Hunt, commander of the 375th Airlift Wing at Scott Air Force Base, who served as the keynote speaker at Wednesday morning's Law Enforcement Memorial Service.
"As we take time to honor our fallen heroes, we are what we do when it counts," he said to the crowd of about 200 law enforcement and Air Force officials, and family and friends of those who had died in the line of duty.
The 26th annual ceremony was at 9 a.m. outside the St. Clair County Jail in Belleville. A procession of police cars from Grace Church in Fairview Heights began the event.
The service was a precursor to National Police Week which begins next week and culminates with the celebration of National Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15.
Bailiff Forrest Bevineau sang "I Will Remember You" as a tribute to the 41 fallen law enforcement officers from the county.
"A lot of women and men have given their lives, made the ultimate sacrifice," he said. "They'll live on in our hearts and we'll try to make them proud."
The rain cleared and the sun came out in time for the ceremony to be held outside as planned.
Louis, a 6-year-old bald eagle form the Wild Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park, Mo., was on hand to represent "courage, strength and bravery," said Sheriff Mearl Justus. "What a fitting tribute to our fallen heroes."
Sgt. Dan Stockett and Investigator Michael Hundelt, named officers of the year, and Karl Pannier, correctional officer of the year, read the names of fallen officers as those in uniform laid red carnations in front of the stone memorial outside of the jail.
A rifle salute and a bagpipe rendition of "Amazing Grace" also were included in the memorial.
Contact reporter Maria Baran at mbaran@bnd.com or 239-2460.
