By Jesse Wood
July 28, 2014. Two years to the day that Watauga County Sheriff’s Deputy William Mast Jr. died in the line of duty while responding to a domestic call in Deep Gap, a dedication ceremony of the Watauga County Law Enforcement Fallen Officer’s Memorial was held at the Watauga County Law Enforcement Center on Hodges Gap Road in Boone.
More than 200 people attended the unveiling of the memorial that stands near the entrance to the law enforcement center beneath three flagpoles featuring the state, national and fallen officer memorial flags.
Among those in attendance on Saturday were Sheriff Len Hagaman, Boone Police Chief Dana Crawford, Blowing Rock Police Chief Anthony Jones, Blowing Rock Commissioner Doug Matheson, Boone Mayor Andy Ball and Watauga County Board of Commissioner Chair Nathan Miller. After speeches from the dignitaries, the unveiling of the memorial, invocation and prayer, a candle light vigil was held at dusk.
A roll call of the six names on the memorial with posting of memorial roses also took place.
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
- See photos from the dedication ceremony below.
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Watauga County Color Guard presents the colors. -
Watauga County Color Guard presents the colors. -
Watauga County Color Guard presents the colors. -
Watauga County Color Guard presents the colors. -
Among those participating in the unveiling of the memorial were Watauga County Board of Commissioner Chair Nathan Miller and Boone Mayor Andy Ball. -
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Family of Hill Hagaman for the post of memorial roses. Hagaman of the Boone Police Department died Oct. 10, 1933. -
Family of William Greene for the post of memorial roses. Greene of the Blowing Rock Police Department died Jan. 18, 1963. -
Family of Robert Kennedy for the post of memorial roses. Kennedy of the Boone Police Department died July 17, 2002. -
Family of William Mast Jr. for the post of memorial roses. Deputy Mast of the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office died July 26, 2012. -
Family of John Knapp for the post of memorial roses. Knapp of the Boone Police Department died March 4, 1999. -
Family of Pat Baker for the post of memorial roses. Baker of the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office died Nov. 28, 2010. -
Watauga County Color Guard -
The memorial -
Watauga County Sheriff Len Hagaman speaks before the crowd. -
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