Blue lights signal law honors
People gather around a blue lighted Christmas tree in front of the old Court House on Wednesday evening at the Montana C.O.P.S. Tree Lighting Prayer Service.
More than 75 people attended a tree-lighting ceremony to memorialize fallen law enforcement officers Wednesday night in front of the Flathead County Courthouse.
Project Blue Light, the first event hosted by the newly-formed Montana Concerns of Police Survivors, culminated in the lighting of a Christmas tree adorned with blue lights and dotted with ornaments placed by families and friends of fallen officers.
Kalispell Mayor Tammi Fisher read a proclamation acknowledging the day as an event of citywide importance.
Chaplain Drew Buckner, who serves the Kalispell Police Department and other emergency responders, read selected Bible passages, among them Psalms 29:11 that states “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”
Montana Highway Patrol Capt. Clancy King said it was an opportunity for family and friends of fallen officers to “sit back and appreciate what we do have.”
King is among the organizers of the Montana chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors.
It’s a local affiliate of national organization that works with family members and co-workers of those killed in the line of duty.
“We hope with the Montana chapter, we can do some local things for local people,” King said.
Family and friends of nine law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty were represented at the Kalispell event.