BY JAIME GATTON

Law enforcement personnel and government officials gathered for the Iredell County Fraternal Order of Police’s memorial ceremony on Tuesday to honor local fallen law enforcement officers and dedicate a new FOP monument bearing the names of local officers who died while serving and protecting the public.

The ceremony’s guest of honor was Kelly Weeks, wife of Deputy U.S. Marshal Tommy Weeks Jr., who was killed in the line of duty on April 29 when a wanted fugitive opened fire on officers executing a warrant for his arrest in Charlotte. Four officers were killed and four others were injured that day.

Tuesday marked Tommy and Kelly Weeks’ second wedding anniversary. When the FOP presented Kelly with a vase of roses, she smiled and said Tommy made sure, even in death, that she received roses for their anniversary.

“He did good,” she said. “Y’all get to celebrate with me. This is how we will heal.”

Kelly said that off-duty law enforcement officers showed up on the scene of the shooting on April 29 and tried to save the injured officers, including her husband, who was the first one shot that day.

“There are so many people in this world that show up when others don’t want to,” she said. “You (as law enforcement officers) have an intrinsic value to want to help and serve others. It’s not something that you learn in school. You’re born with it.”

She thanked the officers for “always showing up” and promised that she will fight to make sure our country always shows up for them.

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