Deputy Hester died in an attempt to save someone from a serious assault. He went to work each day with the desire to protect YOUR liberty and freedoms. YOUR ability to make such a statement is because of people like Deputy Hester. In the event that you were to make that statement verbally and someone were to take offense to that statement then I am sure that you would want a law enforcement officer to race to your aid.

The celebration of Deputy Hester's life and service is not for him nor his co-workers or even the community. The pomp and circumstance honoring Deputy Hester is for his daughters. May they never forget that the most important man in their life, their Daddy, was important to all of those people and that he made a difference to all of them.

I have worn a badge for many years but my children are young. In the event that I was to pass away today my three year old daughter would have no long term memory of me. I would hope that she and my son would cherish the fact that their Daddy was a good man who gave of himself so that others would benefit, that they could look back years from now on the stories and pictures and video of the tribute that someone paid to me.

It is my hope and prayer that these children are comforted by this honor that was paid to their Daddy.