Pam Dudding-Burch
Contributing writer
There is a famous police officer motto that goes: “To protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression and intimidation and the peaceful against violation and disorder.”
The ‘Wall of Honor’ is dedicated to Oscar Miller Martin, Daniel Asburn Carper Hutchison, their families and the men and women of the Craig County Sheriff’s Office, according to Deputy Lilley. Both of their names are engraved on the National Police Officer’s Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.
Sometimes while merely doing their jobs, officers are killed in the line of fire. Many believe that honoring their courageous acts is their duty to their comrades.
On May 11, in conjunction with Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15), a Policeman’s ‘Wall Of Honor”’ was dedicated in Craig County. Deputy Sheriff Alvie Lilley suggested the idea and the other deputies supported it wholeheartedly.
The Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week are both observed in the United States and pays tribute to the local, state and federal peace officers who have died, or who have been disabled, in the line of duty. This year’s Memorial took place on May 15, and Police Week is the calendar week in which the Memorial falls.
On October 1, 1961, Congress asked the President to designate May 15 to honor peace officers. John F. Kennedy signed the bill into law on October 1, 1962.
“The ‘Wall Of Honor’ has been in the planning and research stages for two years,” Deputy Lilley said. “The flags that stand on each side of this wall were graciously donated by our local VFW Post 4491 and presented to the Sheriff’s Office by the Post Quartermaster Bill Burleson who is also an Air Force Veteran.”
The wall is in the memory of the two law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in Craig County.
“All members of the VFW have served in combat or situations of imminent danger,” Burleson said. “Therefore, every member has experienced the loss or potential loss of comrades who have been killed in the line of duty.”
Burleson also noted that the members of the VFW genuinely understand the importance of honoring the memory of fallen comrades and ensuring they are not forgotten. “The Craig Valley VFW Post 4491 was honored to donate the flags to the Sheriff’s Department,” he added.
Information about the two officers who were killed was obtained from the Officer Down Memorial Page.
Oscar Martin lost his life in 1912 on Thursday, June 27. Martin, New Castle Police Department’s Town Sergeant at the time, succumbed to a gunshot wound that was sustained eleven days earlier while attempting to arrest a man for being drunk in public.
The man shot Sergeant Martin in the arm and head before fleeing. The officer was transported to Jefferson Hospital in Roanoke the following morning where he remained until he died from his wound.
The suspect was located in Allegheny County several days later and was shot and wounded when officers attempted to arrest him. He was sentenced to death for the murder, but the sentence was later commuted.
Town Sergeant Martin was only 34-years-old and was survived by his wife and child.
Sheriff Deputy Daniel Asburn Carper Hutchison was killed on Monday, July 19, 1926. At the end of his watch that day, Deputy Hutchison was shot from an ambush while he and another deputy waited for a suspected bootlegger to return to his home near the Craig County – Giles County line.
The suspect was part of a familiar bootlegging ring and was wanted on several warrants. Deputy Hutchison and another man had been deputized to assist with serving the warrants and went to the man’s home. When it was determined that the man was not there, Deputy Hutchison and the deputized citizen left nearby to wait for him.
As they waited, the man noticed them while returning home. He immediately opened fire from behind, killing Deputy Hutchison and seriously wounding the other deputy.
The man fled the area, remained at large for almost one year until June 26, 1927, when he was located by a posse near his father’s home in Craig County. A shootout ensued in which the suspect was fatally wounded.
Deputy Hutchison, 32 at the time, was survived by his wife and child.
“The ‘Wall of Honor’ is dedicated to Oscar Miller Martin, Daniel Asburn Carper Hutchison, their families and the men and women of the Craig County Sheriff’s Office,” Deputy Lilley said. “Also, both of their names are engraved on the National Police Officer’s Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.”
Lilley noted that in 2017, 135 officers were killed in the line of duty. Their names were recently added to the National Memorial in Washington D.C. also. Approximately 55 officers have been killed so far in 2018.
Officers respect the idea of honoring their fallen. The Craig County Sheriff’s Department added that it was an overwhelming majority rule to add this to their community.
“Many things can be said about someone who is willing to ‘take a bullet’ for another,” one citizen shared. “A ‘Thank-you’ just sometimes sounds so empty, so maybe people could add to their daily or weekly agenda, a prayer called the Police Officer’s Prayer.”
It reads: “Lord, I ask for courage. Courage to face and conquer my fears. Courage to take me where others will not go. I ask for strength. The strength of body to protect others and strength of spirit to lead others. I ask for a dedication. Dedication to my job, to do it well. Dedication to my community, to keep it safe. Give me Lord, concern for others who trust me and compassion for those who need me. And please Lord, through it all…be at my side.”
