03/24/2022
Folks of Lawrence County Missouri the Miller Rural Fire Department will be at 39 / 96
Update #3: Strafford Area.
Update #2: MM 117. They should be entering Webster County about now.
All,
Just an update, the procession is on the move. Thank you all for your showing of support.
It appears it may be a little later than expected perhaps an hour or so. It is a beautiful day. We just ask that you "hold the line" for our brother a little bit longer.
Citizens of Lawrence County,
As most of you have heard by now, it has been a tragic two weeks for area first responders. The Joplin Police Department lost two officers in the line of duty, Corporal Cooper, and Officer Reed. The Bonne Terre Missouri Police Department then lost Officer Burns. Then we lost Ebenezer Fire Protection District Firefighter Dustin Brandhorst.
While we may not know them all personally, they are all connected to us in one way or another. They were our family, protecting yours.
In this time of tragedy, we had the honor and privilege to es**rt Corporal Cooper and Officer Reed as they passed through Lawrence County. Because of the timing, we were not able to post anything about the es**rts for the public. But the response by citizens from all over the county to show their appreciation was overwhelming.
Later this week, we will lay to rest our Brother Dustin, while he will not pass through Lawrence County, we will be sending deputies, police officers and firefighters from Lawrence County to pay our final respects.
This Sunday, Officer Lane Burns will be passing through Lawrence County on his way to his final resting place. We will again do the honor of giving him a safe es**rt through our home county to his home of Carthage. Area police departments, EMS, and fire departments will be on hand to pay tribute.
We don't generally ask for much but we are going to make a request to you as a citizen.
Officer Burns will be es**rted from the St. Louis area to Highway 96. In this procession will be those that he worked with who are his family and his blood family. They will be traveling west from I-44 to Carthage where he grew up and went to school.
We expect him to pass through starting around 12:00 on Sunday making his way west. We have always been fortunate to have a community support it's local law enforcement in times of need. There could be no better place to live.
A piece of all of us died with Officer Burns. In my opinion, there could be no greater tribute to this person who gave his life and to his family if we as a county could come out an pay our respects to them all.
I know it is Sunday and many will be in church, but what a blessing it would be if we could get a few of our citizens to be along 96 Highway somewhere, anywhere, with a flag, or two as they passed by.
I know several are already planning on gathering at Hwy 39 & Hwy 96, so that's a good start. But there are plenty of places along the way with wide shoulders, parking areas, etc. that could hold a supporter or two. Again, any sign of support will be appreciated by those affected.
We hope and pray, these tragedies will end and we never have to go through this again.
Thank you all for the support you give us every day. We could not do it without you.
Sheriff DeLay
