Families of fallen officers offered free monuments

By Jim Maniaci
Cibola County Bureau

MILAN — The family of any law enforcement officer local, state or federal killed in the line of duty in New Mexico will be offered a free granite or marble monument, a Milan monument-maker has announced.

Hugh Sheldrick, a former cop, of Lasting Memories Memorials on the village's east side said the service will be his way of honoring those who protect us on the home front. The service will include the design, the fabrication of the message and images on the stone, and delivery anywhere in the state, all without charge to the family.

"In most cases they will have the choice of granite or marble and the family will help design it," he said.

The former Scottsdale, Ariz., police officer said the family can put the monument anywhere it chooses, including (with the proper authorizations) the site where the officer fell or at the cemetery where he or she is buried.

He said, "While I was working on the memorial for a deceased state trooper (Lloyd Aragon), it occurred to me a lot of their families cannot afford a memorial, even though they deserve one. I also recalled the Bible verse about 'No greater love has no man than to lay down his life for a friend.' The law enforcement men and women of this state, be they city, town, village, county, state or federal officers," Sheldrick said, "are out there laying down their lives for us every day. Now it's our turn to repay their dedication."

A former small-town Wisconsin police chief, he added, "I also would like to see a company like mine in every state do this."

To contact reporter Jim Maniaci in Grants, telephone 285-6184 or (505) 870-7775 (cellular).