Winchester Cemetery honors those who gave all
Yesterday Memorial Monday May 30 hundreds gathered to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice at Winchester’s National Cemetery (WNC).
Over 5,000 flags were placed at the headstones of those soldiers who are laid to rest at WNC.
The ceremony was organized by the American Red Cross of the Greater Shenandoah Valley with the support of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2123 co-hosting the event.
Lieutenant Colonel Joan K. Grewe U.S. Army Retired was the Keynote Speaker.
Karen Wallace Williams read the poem of remembrance.
Another co-host of the event, Colonel James Wood II Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution set off a volley of musket fire to honor those who sacrificed.
That was one of many ceremonies held across the region.
Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) allowed the laying of flowers at the tomb of the unknown soldier by the general public this year.
As always ANC with the help of volunteers placed flags at the headstones of those who are buried there.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Henrico Police Officer dies after accident
Henrico County Police confirmed in an announcement the death of Officer Trey Marshall Sutton.
The Officer died from injuries sustained in an accident that occurred Wed. Mar. 30 on U.S. Route 301 in Henrico County.
The accident occurred while Sutton and his partner were returning from a service call with a man in their custody.
The 3 vehicle accident injured all three men in the police vehicle.
The accident remains under investigation with the other two men in the police vehicle hospitalized in critical condition.
Sutton was 24 years old and became an Henirco Police Officer in June of 2021 graduating the police academy in Feb. 2022.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
A run to honor two fallen officers happens tomorrow 3/11
Tomorrow Mar. 11 at 10 a.m. the Dynamic Duo Memorial run/journey will take place for fallen Bridgewater College Officers J.J. Jefferson and John Painter.
According to an announcement from the Grottoes Police Department the event will begin on 6th St. Grottoes Virginia.
The run, walk, starts at 6th St. and ends at the Bridgewater College Police Department an approximately 15 mile journey.
This is the path that Officer Painter took to Bridgewater College after leaving the Grottoes Police Department.
Runners, cyclist and walkers are invited with no required registration however you are asked to contact the Grottoes Police Department if you wish to participate.
The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Department will escort participants and bring them back to the Grottoes Police Department at the end of the journey.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
3,000 attend memorial service for officers
Approximately 3,000 people attended the memorial service of the two officers killed in the line of duty on Feb. 1 according to ABC News.
The officers were shot and killed on the Bridgewater College (BC) Campus last week.
The service was held at James Madison University’s (JMU) Atlantic Union Bank Center because of the crowd that was expected along with its proximity to Bridgewater.
Governor Glenn Youngkin attended the service telling the crowd that Officer John Painter and J.J. Jefferson must be celebrated, honored and always remembered.
Livestream of the service was held at both BC and Shenandoah University (SU).
Jefferson worked at SU from 2012 to 2018 and met his wife there a 2013 SU graduate.
Campus Police Departments, State Police and other Law Enforcement from across the state were a part of the gathering.
The service was over two and a half hours long.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Funeral services for fallen officers expected to cause heavy traffic
A social media post from James Madison University (JMU) confirms that the school will host the joint funeral service for Officers J.J. Jefferson and John Painter today Feb. 9 at 11 a.m..
The two officers were killed in the line of duty at Bridgewater College on Feb.1.
The service is open to the public and expected to draw thousands including law enforcement and first responders from across the state.
Both JMU Officials and Harrsonburg Police are asking for patience with traffic and parking today Feb. 9 around the Atlantic Union Bank Center at the school.
Both Shenandoah University and Bridgewater College posted on social media that they will host a livestream of the service starting at 11 a.m. as well.
Bridgewater College is offering a livestream of the service beginning at 11 a.m. at bridgewater.edu/live.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
Bridgewater brings fallen heroes home
A town of Grottoes and Bridgewater College social post confirm that the two officers killed Tues. Feb. 1 at the school were taken to the funeral home yesterday Feb. 3.
Grottoes Police Chief Jason Sullivan led the procession that brought retired Grottoes Police Chief and former Bridgewater College Officer John Painter to the funeral home.
Former Shenandoah University and Bridgewater Security Officer J.J. Jefferson was in the same caravan.
Law Enforcement Agencies, First Responders and Citizens paid their respects to the fallen Officers by lining the procession route from Roanoke to Harrisonburg.
Where funeral services for the two Officers are still being planned a memorial fund has been planned in their honor.
Bridgewater College confirmed in their social post that they have established a formal memorial fund in the men’s honor.
The school’s Police Department will announce what will happen with the funds once they confer on the subject.
All activities at Bridgewater College have been cancelled until at least Mon. Feb. 7.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.
SU, BC and Grottoes mourn the loss of fallen heroes
Social post from Shenandoah University, Bridgewater College and town of Grottoes shows support for the two fallen officers in Tues. Feb. 1’s shooting at Bridgewater College.
SU posted that J. J. Jefferson was an employee of the school from 2012 to 2018 winning a Wilkins Award back in 2017.
Grottoes mourns the loss of it’s former Police Chief in John Painter.
ABC news reports their assailant made his first court appearance yesterday with his lawyer asking that he be mentally evaluated before his next court appearance Feb. 16.
The suspect in the shooting according to ABC is a former track and field athlete for Bridgewater as well as a college dropout.
The former student has in the past had problems at the school before the shooting incident according to ABC news.
Bridgewater College has suspended all school activities including classes until at least Feb. 7.
For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.