24th annual police procession and memorial for fallen officers is Wednesday in Marina

UPDATED 5/9/2018 11:00 p.m.

Fallen officers across the Central Coast and state honored in a special way Wednesday evening.

The 24th annual Police Memorial in Marina is all about recognizing those who have given everything in service to their community.

Twenty-three officers have lost their lives in Monterey County over the years and many more throughout the state.

Wednesday was all about honoring those men and women, which organizers say is important not just for their loved ones but for the whole community.

Law enforcement from all across the area came to Marina.

Not responding to a crime, but rather remembering their fallen brothers and sisters.

“This is the largest turnout that we’ve had for this event in Monterey County history,” said Darren Chamberlain, president of the Monterey County Peace officers association.

A procession, that stretched for miles representing nearly every Central Coast law enforcement agency.

“Brings us all together and gets us to refocus on how important, how fragile life is,” said Commander Eddie Anderson with the Marina Police Department, “Everyday is important because you never know, tomorrow’s not promised.”

Community members and family were there in support as well.

“I’m extremely grateful to have my husband home at night,” said Molly Casarez, the wife of a probation officer, “To know that he’s home safe another day, that I get to kiss my husband goodnight.”

The memorial service that followed was an emotional reminder that not everyone does get to come home.

Twenty-three Monterey County officers were honored along with others from Santa Cruz county and across the state, looking all the way back to officers killed in the 1800s.

“Just because it happened well over a hundred years ago, doesn’t mean that we should forget the sacrifice that they made to make Monterey County what it is today,” Chamberlin said.

Though the memorial is important for the officers, it’s also about community and they hope people keep showing up.

“It’s good for them to know what our officers do daily and the price that they pay for the ones that didn’t come home at the end of their watch,” Chamberlin said.

PREVIOUS STORY: Never forget. That’s the message today as law enforcement from around the Central Coast will gather this Wednesday evening to pay their respects for those who lost their lives in the line of duty.

“Time heals all wounds, but with time you also forget. So it’s important that every year we come back and reflect on the lives that we lost,” said MCPOA President, Darren Chamberlain.

The Monterey County Peace Officers Association, in coordination with the Marina Police Department will hold the 24th Annual Police Memorial. At 5:30 PM Wednesday, a police vehicle caravan will take off from Marina Airport and head west on Reservation, and then turn on Del Monte as they make their way toward St. Jude’s Church for the memorial service. 23 officers have lost their lives in Monterey County, the last was in 1996 and the first in 1855.

“Not only are we honoring the officers of Monterey County, but we take time to reflect upon the officers who died in California throughout the preceding year. So we will also be honoring eight officers who died in the line of duty in the year of 2017,” said Monterey County Peace Officers Association President, Darren Chamberlain.

Three officers have already lost their lives this year in California alone, of course that number is much higher nationwide.

Police procession will leave the Marina airport at 5:30PM, and the memorial at the church begins at 6PM.

Parade Route: — Beginning at the Marina Airport, the procession will travel West onto Reservation Road — Turn South on Del Monte Ave. — Turn East on Reindollar Ave. — Turn North on Zanetta Ave. — Turn East on Hillcrest Ave. to the Church — Parking in front of Los Arboles Middle School.