The 8th Annual City of Texarkana, Texas, Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony will begin at 10AM on Wednesday, May 11, to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and for those who continue to serve our community. 

Everyone is invited to this free event to show support to our local law enforcement officers. The event will be held at the John Thomas Theater inside the Sullivan Performing Arts Center which is located on the campus of Texas High School at 3941 Summerhill Road, Texarkana, Texas.

They all knew the job could be dangerous, but they just wanted to make their community a little bit better for us all to live in. They died heroes.

The event is an emotional one for Shawn Vaughn, Public Information Officer for the Texarkana, Texas Police Department.

"This is the eighth year that we have been able to host a local memorial service during the National Law Enforcement Memorial Week. I think back to those in years' past and still get emotional," he said  "I remember looking at the pictures of those officers as their names are called and realize that they are just like you and me. These are men and women who had families. People who had plans of what they were going to do that next weekend. People who dreamed of growing old and retiring. All of that was ripped from them and their loved ones in a second by someone else’s senseless acts.

"They all knew the job could be dangerous, but they just wanted to make their community a little bit better for us all to live in. They died heroes."

This last year was particularly bad for Texas as it tragically led the nation in law enforcement deaths, Vaughn noted.

"While we were extremely fortunate that our own department was not touched by this during 2015, our area was not left unscathed. One of those that we will be honoring this year is Telford Correctional Officer Timothy Davison, who was killed by an inmate in July. I believe that, as a community, we owe it to each of these officers to recognize their sacrifice and remind those officers who remain that we appreciate their daily efforts to keep us safe."

Texarkana, Texas Mayor Bob Bruggeman, City Council members, City Manager and other civic leaders invite all citizens to come to honor police officers and fallen Texas Peace Officers. The speaker this year will be Officer Mark Shermer, and the special musical guest will be Alana Sikes. A reception will follow the ceremony.

For more information, visit the Texarkana, Texas Police Department on Facebook.

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