Memorial Day Ceremonies Continued Despite Rain, Wind

SOUTH MISSISSIPPI -- Rain curtailed some outdoor activities during the Memorial Day Weekend, but residents throughout the six counties found ways to honor military personnel who have given their lives to safeguard the U.S. and its way of life.



Several people walked through the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Ocean Springs, leaving bouquets of flowers and other mementos. There was no official ceremony, but flags flew at half-staff, in many countries a symbol of respect, mourning or distress.






In Gautier, rain moved the second annual Avenue of Flags from the state's only Veterans' Tribute Tower outside Gautier City Hall to indoors at American Legion Post 1992, event co-sponsor along with the City of Gautier.


"It turned out wonderful. We knew the weather was going to be bad, so we moved it inside of the building and huge crowds. Everybody was standing and singing God Bless America. Let me tell you, our fallen heroes are not forgotten," said local American Legion Commander Bill Whitely said. -- WLOX TV-13


Gautier Holds Emotional Service to Honor Fallen Soldiers
WLOX TV-13/May


In addition, Veterans Post 2539 and the City of Gulfport paid special recognition to Vietnam veterans Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger and Construction Mechanic 3rd class Marvin Shields, both Medal of Honor recipients, during a Memorial Day ceremony at Jones Park. 


The annual service at Biloxi National Cemetery featured Capt. Paul Odenthal, commanding officer of Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport. WLOX reported that more than 200 people showed up for the ceremony that included threatening clouds but people undaunted by the weather. Volunteers had spent the weekend decorating the cemetery's military gravesites with small flags, and reclaimed those flags today.


Veterans Post 139 hosted a ceremony at St. Mary's Cemetery in Bay St. Louis.


D'Lo, which is reported to have had more residents per capita serve in World War II, conducted a service for military personnel who have died in American wars and conflicts.



Memorial Day Services Honor Fallen Soldiers
Sun Herald/May 24, 2015




Remembrance and Celebration Memorial Day has Serious, Lighter Sides
Sun Herald/May 23, 2015


Visit media sets at WLOX TV-13, Sun Herald, and Mississippi Press for online broadcasts, articles and photographs of services and events in South Mississippi.

Family, Friends, Comrades Remember Officer Tate

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The second officer who was gunned down earlier this month was laid to rest when services for Officer Liquori Tate were conducted Saturday among remembrances of his dedication to law enforcement and passion for life.

Tate, 25, and Patrolman Benjamin Deen, 34, were shot and killed May 9 during a traffic stop near East Fourth and Bouie streets.

Thousands Attend Funeral for 2nd Slain Hattiesburg Officer
Sun Herald/May 16, 2015

Media outlets estimate that more than 2,000 people, including law enforcement officers from across the U.S., lined the streets and attended the visitation, funeral and final procession for the young officer. Among those were the family of Officer Deen, who attended the service at West Point Baptist Church. Tate's family had attended Deen's funeral on Thursday.  

Photos: Funeral for Officer Liquori Tate 
Hattiesburg American 

Family and friends said that Tate, known as "CoCo," was passionate about his chosen career, family and life, according to report from the Hattiesburg American, and had had a childhood dream of becoming a law enforcement officer. Fellow officers said he

Visitation for Officer Liquori Tate
Hattiesburg American 



"Life is too short. So if I die today I'm happy how my life turned out. And I'm happy that I had a chance to meet the people that I met and I enjoyed every moment that I have spent with each and every one of them. That's my word." -- Liquori Tate on Facebook, as reported by Sun Herald.

Tate was shy just under a month from celebrating a year as a police officer with the Hattiesburg Police Department. He was sworn in June 11, 2014. He had worked for ABC Security prior to that.  

20-year-old Naval Academy Student Among Victims of Amtrak Derailment

PHILADELPHIA -- Justin Zemser, a 20-year-old midshipman at the U.S.

Naval Academy in Maryland, will be the first of victim of this week's Amtrak derailment to be buried when funeral services are held today at the Boulevard-Riverside-Hewlett Chapel on Long Island.

The sophomore student lives in New York City and was on his way home from Annapolis, Maryland,  when the train derailed Tuesday night. He wanted to be a Navy Seal, and was an only child, according to a report from CNN. 

Zemser was among eight people killed and more than 200 injured among the 243 people aboard train 188 in the Philadelphia, Penn., wreck.  

ABCNEWS reported profiles of Zemser and the other victims who include Laura Finamore, Derrick Griffith, Jim Gaines, Bob Gildersleeve, Abid Gilani, Rachel Jacobs, and Giuseppe Piras. 

PROFILE:
Photo from Google.com

Justin Zemser, a popular student leader and athlete, was on a break from the U.S. Naval Academy and heading home to Rockaway Beach, New York, where playing high school football helped him and his teammates through the devastation of Superstorm Sandy.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus called Zemser a "crucial member" of the institution.

The 20-year-old's family released a statement mourning "a loving son, nephew and cousin who was very community-minded." They said the tragedy "has shocked us all in the worst way."

Zemser was in his second year. He served as vice president of the Jewish Midshipmen Club and played wide receiver on the academy's sprint football team. Friends at the Naval Academy remembered him for his endearing leadership qualities.

Midshipman James Lieto recalled how his sprint football teammate helped lead first-year students through the academy's Sea Trials hours before the crash. The trials, which began at 3 a.m. on Tuesday, encompass a rigorous 14-hour day of physical challenges.

Zemser, who was known as "Z," wore a floppy sun hat in the early morning darkness to lighten the mood.

"He was always there to pick other people up," Lieto said Thursday.

At Channel View School for Research in New York, Zemser was valedictorian, student government president and captain of the football team.

Outside of school, Zemser interned for New York City Councilman Eric Ulrich and former Councilman James Sanders. Ulrich called him "truly a bright, talented and patriotic young man."

Zemser also volunteered with a church program, a soup kitchen and a nursing home and mentored children with autism, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said. Schumer and U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks nominated Zemser to the Naval Academy, and Meeks was struck by his "high character, intellectual curiosity and maturity beyond his years."

Patrolman Benjamin Deen Laid to Rest

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Patrolman Benjamin J. Deen was laid to rest today during a funeral service
and final procession that included hundreds of law enforcement members from across the United States.

Deen was one of two Hattiesburg police officers gunned down May 9 during a traffic stop. Officer Liquori Tate, 25, whose family attended the service for Deen,will be laid to rest on Saturday.

Officers from as far as New York City attended the service that remembered Deen, 34, as a dedicated officer, family man, and friend with a great sense of humor.

Hundreds of residents not attending service at Temple Baptist Church lined the streets for the procession to the church and to Deen's final resting place at Military Baptist in Sumrall.

Colleagues From Around US Attend Funeral for Slain Hattiesburg Officer
Sun Herald/May 14, 2015

Photographs of funeral ceremonies
Sun Herald/May 14, 2015   


Officer Deen Remembered for Service, Humor, Devotion to Family
WLOX-TV/photos/May 14, 2015

Candlelight Vigil Honors Mississippi Fallen Officers

 JACKSON, Miss. -- Attorney General Jim Hood and the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police join together to host the state’s fifth annual “Mississippi Fallen Law Enforcement Officer’s Candlelight Vigil.” 

The event will be held today, May 12, at 6:30 p.m.  at the Mississippi Fallen Officers Memorial between the Sillers and Gartin Justice buildings off High Street in downtown Jackson.

“We began this ceremony five years ago following the creation of the memorial wall,” said Attorney General Hood.  “If you haven’t had a chance to visit the memorial, this is a great opportunity to do so and to honor our state’s fallen officers. 

"Since we last held this ceremony, Mississippi has lost seven heroes in the line of duty, two in 2014 and five in 2015. There are another 227 names on the memorial,” he said.

Mississippi’s most recently fallen officers are:

John Thomas Collum       May 9, 2014                    Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

John Robert Street          December 16, 2014          George Co. S.O.

John Ballard Gorman       January 21, 2015             Mississippi Gaming Commission

Johnny Gatson                March 10, 2015               Warren Co. S.O.

Josie Wells                     March 10, 2015                United States Marshals Service

Liquori Tate                     May 9, 2015                    Hattiesburg Police Department

Benjamin Deen                March 9, 2015                 Hattiesburg Police Department

“This vigil is a chance to come together and remember our fallen comrades and to pray for the safety of all our state’s law enforcement officers as they serve and protect,” said Ken Winter, executive director of the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police. 

Members of the public, along with family and friends of any Mississippi law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty, are invited to join officers from the Mississippi Chiefs of Police Association, the Mississippi Sheriffs Association, the Mississippi  Highway Patrol, the Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries Department, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office at the event. 

Community Mourns 2 Officers, Funerals Planned in Hattiesburg

Officers Liquori Tate, 25, and Benjamin Deen,34, were killed in the line of duty Saturday, May 9, 2015, while performing a routine traffic stop in Hattiesburg, Miss. A candlelight vigil for the men was held May 11.


SOUTH MISSISSIPPI  -- Officers from South Mississippi attended the vigil held Monday to honor and remember two Hattiesburg officers killed May 9 during a traffic stop.

Liquori Tate, 25, and Benjamin Deen, 34, were shot during a routine traffic stop on Fourth Street, and died shortly after arriving at Forrest County General Hospital for treatment to save their lives. Coroner Butch Benedict told media outlets that one officer was shot in the face and the other was shot in the back.

Four people were arrested Sunday in the deaths of the Hattiesburg officers. Marvin Banks, 26, and Joanie Calloway, 22, have been charged with capital murder. Curtis Banks, 29, has been charged with accessory after the fact for capital murder. Cornelius Clark has been charged with obstruction of justice. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is handling the case.

2 Hattiesburg officers killed; 4 suspects in custody
The Clarion-Ledger/May 11, 2015

Tate graduated from the Mississippi Police Academy in June 2014. He was a graduate of South Pike High and Southwest Mississippi Community College before joining the Hattiesburg Police Department.

"I graduated the Police Academy today. I am now a Police Officer. I would like to thank God, the Police Academy, the Police Department, my family, friends, and love ones." -- Liquori Tate/Facebook/June 11

Deen was a K-9 officer with the HPD, and had been named Officer of the Year in 2012.

Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree and Gov. Phil Bryant spoke during the vigil held Monday night to honor and remember the two officers.

Services for Deen have been set. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at West Temple Baptist Church campus Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. at the church campus with a ceremony following at the Military Baptist Church Cemetery in Sumrall.

Funeral arrangements released for both fallen officers
WLOX TV-13/May 12, 2015 

Funeral arrangements for Tate include visitation from 5-8 p.m. Friday followed by the service at West Point Baptist Church on Hartfield Road in Hattiesburg. 

South Mississippi includes the six counties of Jackson, Harrison, Hancock, Pearl River, Stone and George, and is the location of the metropolitan area of Gulfport and Biloxi.