Published: May 07, 2008 11:08 pm            

Fallen TDCJ officers honored at Holliday Unit ceremony

Fallen and missing officers of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice were honored during a special ceremony on Wednesday morning at the Holliday Unit.

In addition to Susan Canfield, who died in the line of duty during a prisoner escape from the Wynne Unit in September, eight other officers who died in 2007 and a group of about 50 officers who have died in the last two centuries were honored.

Warden Pamela Baggett of the Holliday Unit led the ceremony, explaining to the group of approximately 70 officers, students and community members present what the meaning of the ceremony was based on.

“This very special occasion is our ninth annual TDCJ Memorial Service, and we are here to honor the memory of TDCJ employees and all correctional workers across the nation who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and well-being of others,” she said. “A ceremony such as this is a most fitting tribute to those brave souls who have died in the line of duty.”

The ceremony included several actions meant to honor the sacrifices made by fallen and missing correctional officers and workers.

According to TDCJ Maj. Mitch Bradshaw of the Holliday Unit, several different ceremony events were held during the service to honor fallen or missing officers.

“We had the lighting of a memorial candle, and the blowing of the horn for our fallen officers,” he said. “We also had a riderless horse — it was black with a black blanket, a black saddle and a pair of boots which were reversed — to signify a fallen officer.”

A round table was also set up with various items to symbolize and commemorate missing officers, which TDCJ Officer Linnice Perry discussed in detail.

“Each part of our missing officer table carries a special meaning related to those officers,” she said. “The table is round to show our everlasting concern for those officers, the white cloth symbolizes purity, and the sword, honor. The rose reminds us of the lives of our missing soldiers and their friends, and the vase with the yellow ribbon shows our continued determination to locate these officers.

The lemon symbolizes the bittersweet faith of those crippled in the line of duty, the salt shows the bitter tears cried for our fallen, the Bible symbolizes faith, and the glass inverted reminds us of their inability to share today’s toast. Finally, the chair is empty because they are missing.”

During her address, Baggett relayed her personal memories of the day Canfield died in the line of duty.

“It became evident that an inmate had escaped at the Wynne Unit, and we immediately began to respond to the escape,” she said. “I later spoke to my husband at the Wynne Unit, and he said that he was with Officer Canfield.

“We go about our lives and our jobs expecting to go home everyday, but on that day, Susan Canfield lost her life. This service is meaningful to us as always, but it is even more poignant this year because we’ve lost one of our own.”

Near the end of the ceremony, Bradshaw paid special tribute to officers around the country who died in the line of duty during 2007.

In addition to Canfield, Bradshaw called the names of Deputy Sheriff William Hudnall, correctional officer Pablo Vasquez, correctional officer Stephen Anderson, community involvement director Jerome Brewer, Paul Rein of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, corrections deputy Daniel Thorpe, transport officer Laura Whittingham and correctional officer Elizabeth Franklin.

Baggett said she hoped the ceremony would serve as both a way to honor fallen and missing officers and as a time of reflection and remembrance.

“We respect and honor each fallen employee and carry their memories in high esteem for the work they have done and the impact each one has had on the lives of loved ones and co-workers left behind,” she said. “As a part of the corrections family, I am hopeful that this day will serve as an inspiration to us all.

“So long as we live, those who have been with us, too, shall live in our hearts and memories.”

        

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