Hartford, Wi – The Hartford Police Department is hosting the midnight bagpiper on Tuesday May 13, at 11:55 p.m. at the Schauer Arts Center as a part of National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Day.
In 2022 about a dozen people stood along the sidewalk outside the Slinger Village Hall on Friday night, May 13, 2022, to pay respect during the annual Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony in Washington County. The ceremony was titled Bagpipes at Midnight.
Squads from local police departments, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and State Patrol were parked side-by-side as an opening prayer, Psalm 23, was read by the Pastor from Shepherd of the Hills Church.
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Following the prayer, a lone bagpiper performed “God Bless America” followed by “America the Beautiful.”
The bagpiper then walked in front of the squads playing “Amazing Grace.” After walking past each vehicle, the lights on that squad would turn go dark.
The Law Enforcement Memorial Service was held to honor Washington County Law Enforcement Officers that died in the line of duty, and to pay tribute to all police officers throughout the country that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
A rebroadcast of the full ceremony is below.
Three fallen officers in Washington County were recognized with memorial banners: Germantown Police Officer Robert Backes, 35, who was killed March 21, 1981. Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy John Schmitt, 31, who died while answering a call on Labor Day, Sept. 7, 1998 and Marshal Scherger, 33, of the Hartford Police Department who was killed in May 1904.
This year the Law Enforcement Memorial is May 15, at 7 p.m. at the Washington County Fair Park along with the gravesite wreath laying on Friday 16 at Marshal Leonard Schergers gravesite.
All are invited to attend to pay tribute to fallen officers from Washington County, WI.
