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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal
The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office honored fallen law enforcement officers in Lowndes County and the nation and showed its appreciation with Law Enforcement Appreciation Day in Hayneville Town Square, Saturday.
In addition to food and fun, the event included signing, a raising of flags with the flag for law enforcement (the thin blue line) hoisted to half-mast by Lowndes County Sheriff John Williams and the laying of a wreath and lightning of candles by Lowndes County Deputy Vernessia Thicklin.
Tia Thicklin sang the National Anthem.
Also among those present for the event hosted by Sheriff Williams were Lowndes County officials including Circuit Court Judge Terri Bozeman Lovell, District Court Judge Adrian D. Johnson, District Attorney Charlotte M. Tesmer, Assistant DA Steve Townes, retired District Court Judge Ted Bozeman and Daria Boswell, coordinator of the Blackbelt Coalition to prevent underage drinking.
Following a welcome by Williams, Beulah Primitive Baptist Church Pastor Elder Tom Gardner III brought the blessing.
He thanked God for community and officers who protect citizens every day of their lives.
Vernessia Thicklin said prior to the wreath laying and candle lighting ceremony, “We all know about the other counties, the other communities that suffered. We are blessed. We don’t have that in our community, but we are going to take the time to do a dedication, a memorial service… we are going to draw the law enforcement flag in the middle at half-mast for those communities that are having problems with law enforcement that can’t come together… the blue thin line.”
She said, “We do not make judgements because of officers. We do not think for another officer. They are trained to do a job. They try to do it well. Sometimes our judgement call is not always what it should be…” But she said the flag was being flown “at half-mast in honor those officers who lost their lives for whatever reason in the communities that they were serving.”
The memorial in Hayneville Town Square in front of the Lowndes County Courthouse includes the names of former Sheriff and Probate Judge John Hulett, Richard Matthews, Samuel L. McKee, former Sheriff Willie Vaughner and Johnny L. Shaner.