In a ceremony Monday, Federal Way police and community remembered police officers Brian Walsh, Patrick Maher and others who have passed away while on duty.
Federal Way was one stop the Honor Flag made on its West Coast tour to honor fallen police, fire, military and other service professionals. Individuals gathered near the flagpole at City Hall. A motorcade of police and Honor Guard members from multiple agencies lined City Hall’s entrance. The Honor Flag was risen to the top of the flagpole before it was slowly lowered to half-mast. A prayer for service members followed.
“We are incredibly honored to have this flag flying over our city,” mayor Linda Kochmar said.
Walsh’s and Maher’s widows were present at the ceremony. Vanessa Walsh lost her husband, Brian, 34, on March 21 when he died of a heart attack while responding to a call. She fought to hold back tears. At her side was her newborn baby girl, who arrived just months after Walsh passed away.
Renee Maher was also in attendance. All the people who put their lives on the line every day are heroes, she said. Nearly seven years has passed since Maher’s husband, Patrick, passed away.
“It never gets easier,” she said.
Patrick Maher was killed Aug. 2, 2003, while struggling to subdue a man who had been fighting with his brother. During the struggle, the suspect grabbed Maher’s firearm from its holster and shot the officer. Maher had worked for Federal Way police since January of that year. His career started in the Coast Guard and the Honolulu police department.
After another prayer, the flag was lowered and folded. The motorcade parted Federal Way and headed for Lakewood, where Sgt. Mark Renninger and officers Gregory Richards, Tina Griswold and Ronald Owens II were honored. The flag will continue its tour in Oregon and California.
Honor Flag history
The Honor Flag had a simple beginning. It came to be regarded as a symbol of pride and honor shortly following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The flag was gifted to Chris Heisler by the Texas House of Representatives after the terrorist attacks. Heisler carried the flag to Ground Zero in New York City. One of the longest police motorcades in history accompanied him on his trip to plant the flag at the place where nearly 3,000 Americans perished.
Heisler later joined the U.S. Army and carried the flag with him on deployments to Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq. It was in the Middle East that the flag was named as the U.S. Honor Flag.
The Honor Network, a non-profit organization, was created to pay respects to all individuals who have served the United States. The flag’s West Coast tour is just one way the network has shown its support for service men and women.
“The Honor Network was founded on the conviction that every person who is committed in service to our communities and country deserve the support of every single American and that an increase in American patriotism is vital in keeping our great nation united,” according to the Honor Network website, http://ushonorflag.homestead.com.
