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Dedication Ceremony of Watauga County Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Set for July 26

The memorial to honor fallen officers in Watauga County is complete. A dedication is set for July 26. Photos by Jesse Wood
The memorial to honor fallen officers in Watauga County is complete. A dedication is set for July 26. Photos by Jesse Wood

By Jesse Wood

July 24, 2014. Two years to the day that Watauga County Sheriff’s Deputy William Mast Jr. died in the line of duty when responding to a domestic call in Deep Gap, a dedication ceremony of the Watauga County Law Enforcement Fallen Officer’s Memorial takes place on Saturday, July 26, at 7 p.m. at the Watauga County Law Enforcement Center on Hodges Gap Road in Boone.

Watauga County Board of Commissioners Chair Nathan Miller will lead off the event with a welcome, while the Watauga County Color Guard does the presentation of colors. W.R. Winkler III and the First Baptist Church Choir will sing the national anthem.

The ceremony will also include an opening invocation from Pastor Michael Greene, memorial wreath from the color guard, a memorial unveiling and dedication from Sheriff Len Hagaman and Pastor Bud Russell. Pastor Seth Norris will lead off the roll call.

Six names are listed on the memorial with four of those dying in the line of duty, while two others passed away while actively serving. Those names are:

  • Will Hagaman of the Boone Police Department, died Oct. 10, 1933
  • William Greene of the Blowing Rock Police Department, died Jan. 18, 1963
  • Robert Kennedy of the Boone Police Department, died July 17, 2002
  • William Mast Jr. of the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office, died July 26, 2012
  • John Knapp of the Boone Police Department, died March 4, 1999
  • Pat Baker of the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office, died Nov. 28, 2010

An intermission with refreshments will follow and then about 8:30 p.m. or dark, the ceremony will come to a close with a candle light vigil and music and benediction, Deputy Toby Ragan said.

The event is open to the public.

See a program below that features a listing of businesses, organizations and individuals that helped make the memorial possible:

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