Family of fallen Hamilton County deputy given proclamation, assurance of help at Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Those who have fallen in the line of duty were honored Friday in downtown Chattanooga.

The annual ceremony held a special significance after the recent death of Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Landon Faulkner in an April crash in Sequatchie County.

A declaration made by the Hamilton County delegation in the Tennessee General Assembly was given to the widow of Deputy Faulkner, Megan Faulkner, on a day where fallen officers from 16 different local and federal agencies were honored.

Each agency was represented by a rose placed in front of the Law Enforcement Memorial and wreaths placed by the Chattanooga Police Department and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.

Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett said the ceremony, “Doesn’t bring someone back. It doesn’t necessarily make the situation better, but it helps. It’s part of the healing process.”

This year’s featured speaker was Frank Siller, the founder of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Siller founded that organization in the wake of his younger brother Stephen’s sacrifice as a New York Firefighter as he was killed during the September 11, 20-01 attacks.

He says this organization’s goal is to help all families who lose someone in the line of duty, as they have recently helped Deputy Faulkner’s family.

Siller explained, “I spoke to his widow Meghan. She has four kids that are left behind and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation made a promise to these families that make the supreme sacrifice that we’re going to make sure that we take care of the families. We make sure that we’re going to pay off their mortgage when we get all the stuff together that we have to get together to do that.”

He says these small actions are what’s important to keep the memory of the fallen alive and hopes that when tragedy strikes, help will be on the way for those left behind.

Siller said, “I hope people are watching this today and after your reports and they go talk about the great sacrifice that is made and these sacrifices will be made again. Guaranteed that we lose somebody again. Maybe not today but tomorrow or the day after, and we want to be there to help.”

Sheriff Garrett says that Deputy Faulkner will be formally placed on the downtown Law Enforcement Memorial wall at next year’s ceremony.

News 12’s Chip Chapman had the honor of reading the name of the fallen during the ceremony.