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Photos by Christopher Dion
May 14, 2025
Bandera Backs the Blue during 24-hour vigil
By Christopher Dion
Special to the Prophet
Before the sun rose on Saturday, May 10, a memorial to fallen Law Enforcement appeared on the Bandera County Courthouse lawn. This simple memorial consisted of an empty chair, known as an Honor Chair by those who wear the badge. This chair is emblematic of the one an officer sits in at the beginning of their shift, as they receive the daily briefing and commit to the duty before them. Beside this chair was a small round table covered in a white cloth to symbolize the eternal and the purity of their service. Atop the table was a Bible open to John 15:13 “No greater love hath any man than he lay down his life for his friends.”
A candle burned in front of the Bible to represent the life of the fallen officer who was guided by those words. Laying in front of that was a single red rose symbolizing their love for us and ours for them. To the other side of the Honor Chair was an empty kennel crate for the officer clad in fur. On the kennel hung a leash and collar to symbolize the bond between both man and beast in service to a greater cause. Finally, there was an empty bowl for the meal no longer shared and the drink that lies waiting somewhere over the rainbow bridge.
The memorial appeared silently at 5 a.m., symbolic of the 5-pointed star of law enforcement. It then disappeared reverently 24 hours later at 5 a.m., symbolic of the Texas Star that we all live peacefully under because of their service. This memorial stood in quiet testament throughout this period, interrupted but for a moment at 5 p.m., when the flag of our nation was retired in their honor and Amazing Grace was played on bagpipes. This retirement marked the constellation of 50 stars that sits upon a field of blue which unites us all under the banner of one nation, which they in part defended.
This memorial did not sit alone, however. Representatives of a thankful community came out and stood the watch over it and with it. They came out and committed to stand one hour at a time, to show the fallen that they were not forgotten. They came also to testify to those who serve today that their service is neither in vain, nor their sacrifice unappreciated. They came to this sacred place one by one to show that Bandera does in fact Back the Blue.
Those who served included a 28-year Houston PD veteran, a former Bandera marshal, as well as our current Bandera marshal, along with our recently elected sheriff. Other volunteers represented the Blue Knights LEMC, Reguladores LEMC, Combat Vets Motorcycle Association, and the Bandera American Legion Riders. Other volunteers represented local churches like White Rock Christian Fellowship, youth organizations like Trail Life Troop TX-9112 and Bandera Boy Scout Troop 146 and a moving rendition of Amazing Grace played by Mr. Robert Real. There were even local visitors who stopped by out of curiosity and stood faithfully in honor of those they had served with such as a young man from Warriors Heart.
All of this came together, as it has for the past four years, based on the efforts and commitment of the members of Bandera American Legion Post 157 and its Commander Col. Susan Junker, U.S. Army (Retired). This post was first inspired in 2022 to do something to mark National Police Week and to honor National Peace Officers Memorial Day. They wanted to do this to show our Law Enforcement community and all of Texas and the Nation that Bandera truly does “Backs the Blue.” They did this particularly at a time when it was not popular to stand firmly beside those who bear the burden of the badge. However, as many of its members were Vietnam Veterans, who remembered a time when military service was not popular, they were committed to ensure fellow warriors never had to feel as they had.
Thus the commitment was made to honor those lost in the line of duty (Sheriff Elvious Hicks, March 20, 1932 and Deputy Sheriff Jack Phillips, Dec. 29, 1876) as well as all who wore the badge in Bandera County and now lie in the soil they defended.
If you are interested in learning more or participating next year please feel free to contact the Bandera American Legion at 830-796-7528.
A candle burned in front of the Bible to represent the life of the fallen officer who was guided by those words. Laying in front of that was a single red rose symbolizing their love for us and ours for them. To the other side of the Honor Chair was an empty kennel crate for the officer clad in fur. On the kennel hung a leash and collar to symbolize the bond between both man and beast in service to a greater cause. Finally, there was an empty bowl for the meal no longer shared and the drink that lies waiting somewhere over the rainbow bridge.
The memorial appeared silently at 5 a.m., symbolic of the 5-pointed star of law enforcement. It then disappeared reverently 24 hours later at 5 a.m., symbolic of the Texas Star that we all live peacefully under because of their service. This memorial stood in quiet testament throughout this period, interrupted but for a moment at 5 p.m., when the flag of our nation was retired in their honor and Amazing Grace was played on bagpipes. This retirement marked the constellation of 50 stars that sits upon a field of blue which unites us all under the banner of one nation, which they in part defended.
This memorial did not sit alone, however. Representatives of a thankful community came out and stood the watch over it and with it. They came out and committed to stand one hour at a time, to show the fallen that they were not forgotten. They came also to testify to those who serve today that their service is neither in vain, nor their sacrifice unappreciated. They came to this sacred place one by one to show that Bandera does in fact Back the Blue.
Those who served included a 28-year Houston PD veteran, a former Bandera marshal, as well as our current Bandera marshal, along with our recently elected sheriff. Other volunteers represented the Blue Knights LEMC, Reguladores LEMC, Combat Vets Motorcycle Association, and the Bandera American Legion Riders. Other volunteers represented local churches like White Rock Christian Fellowship, youth organizations like Trail Life Troop TX-9112 and Bandera Boy Scout Troop 146 and a moving rendition of Amazing Grace played by Mr. Robert Real. There were even local visitors who stopped by out of curiosity and stood faithfully in honor of those they had served with such as a young man from Warriors Heart.
All of this came together, as it has for the past four years, based on the efforts and commitment of the members of Bandera American Legion Post 157 and its Commander Col. Susan Junker, U.S. Army (Retired). This post was first inspired in 2022 to do something to mark National Police Week and to honor National Peace Officers Memorial Day. They wanted to do this to show our Law Enforcement community and all of Texas and the Nation that Bandera truly does “Backs the Blue.” They did this particularly at a time when it was not popular to stand firmly beside those who bear the burden of the badge. However, as many of its members were Vietnam Veterans, who remembered a time when military service was not popular, they were committed to ensure fellow warriors never had to feel as they had.
Thus the commitment was made to honor those lost in the line of duty (Sheriff Elvious Hicks, March 20, 1932 and Deputy Sheriff Jack Phillips, Dec. 29, 1876) as well as all who wore the badge in Bandera County and now lie in the soil they defended.
If you are interested in learning more or participating next year please feel free to contact the Bandera American Legion at 830-796-7528.