The overpasses on Highway I-65 in Kentucky were a sight to see on Sept. 14. First responders from across the state hung the flags in the memory of State Trooper Joseph Cameron Ponder. The 31-year-old officer was fatally shot in the line of duty on Sept. 13. Fellow officers and other first responders lined the highway and saluted as Ponder's funeral procession drove past.
The first responders wanted to display unity and show respect for Ponder's sacrifice.
"We try to stick together and do what is right and take care of each other and the families," Shepardsville Fire Department's Assistant Fire Chief Craig Hampton told WLKY News. "You know, it is just one of those things where we try to stick together."
Ponder's family, including his fiancee, were grateful for the show of support. Firefighters and police officers from surrounding states also showed up to support the memorial effort and help hang the flags.
The Shepardsville first responders told WLKY News that it was always hard to lose a brother or sister in the line of duty, but the outpouring of support was enough to remind them why they go to work every day.