Memorial Created To Honor Fallen Montco Police Officers

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — Montgomery County's fallen police officers were honored on Tuesday night during the 27th annual Project Blue Light Ceremony — with a new twist.

The ceremony has evolved over the decades.

First, it was held outside in what some officials said felt like the coldest temperatures of the year. For 20 years, the ceremony took place inside the Horsham Fire Company building on Horsham Road with a tree lit with blue candles in Deep Meadow Park, Police Chief Scott Fida told the crowd.

For the past three years, the ceremony has taken place inside the Horsham Township Community Center.

This year, though, the tree changed.

"We have a new memorial where we are unveiling a new tree and a new location inside the Horsham Township Municipal Complex," Fida said.

Since the ceremony was held in Horsham, officials decided to have the children and grandchildren of the township's police officers light the tree.

The ceremony featured remarks by Horsham Township Council President W. William Whiteside, Township Manager Bill Walker, and several Montgomery County officials.

There were performances by the Simmons Elementary School 4th and 5th Grade Chorus and "Taps" played by Hatboro-Horsham High Schooler Hayden Renk.

Candles honoring the fallen police officers were lit by Detectives Kimberly Ngo and Michael Peter with the roll call of police officers by Horsham Deputy Police Chief Adam Dunning.

"We admire their service and dedication to the job, and we remember the families they left behind," Whiteside said. "They took on the duty to serve. Due to their bravery and sacrifice, we enjoy peace and safety. We thank you for your service, and we thank you for your sacrifice."

Project Blue Light is a nationwide observance begun more than 30 years ago by Dolly Craig of Philadelphia.

In 1988, Craig placed two blue candle lights in the window of her home: one in honor of her son-in-law, Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Gleason, killed in the line of duty in 1986; and one for her daughter Pam, Gleason’s wife, who died in an auto crash in 1988. The couple had six children.

The Montgomery County police officers lost in the line of duty are:

• Constable Daniel J. O'Brien —Abington Township Police, Aug. 8, 1904
• Officer Eugene J. Lucas —Conshohocken Borough Police, Aug. 13, 1917
• Officer Francis X. Roy —Lower Merion Township Police, Sept. 15, 1924
• Sgt. John M. Thomas —Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol, May 8, 1927
• Officer Elwyn A. Fletcher —Lower Merion Township Police, June 9, 1927
• Patrolman Andrew W. Miller —Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol, April 1, 1928
• Chief Warren M. Kramer —Hatboro Borough Police, Oct. 6, 1935
• Officer Edgar L. Peterson —Cheltenham Township Police, March 3, 1946
• Officer Thomas J. Matthews —Abington Township Police, June 29, 1949
• Officer John J. Plunkett —Jenkintown Borough Police, March 9, 1957
• Chief Robert E. Reilly —Norristown Borough Police, Sept. 9, 1959
• Trooper Francis M. Tessitore —Pennsylvania State Police, Aug. 5, 1960
• Chief John J. Culp —Lower Providence Township Police, Dec. 25, 1963
• Officer Thomas W. Corum —Pottstown Borough Police, Jan. 20, 1964
• Sergeant Francis J. Fanning —Lower Merion Township Police, July 6, 1966
• Officer Michael J. Saulin —Upper Merion Township Police, March 4, 1975
• Officer David J. Hancock —Montgomery Township Police, Dec. 11, 1976
• Officer Raymond Moscardelli —Ambler Borough Police, Jan. 20, 1977
• Sergeant A. Wesley Faust —New Hanover Township Police, May 22, 1977
• Corporal Leo M. Koscelnick —Pennsylvania State Police, Aug. 15, 1977
• Trooper Stanley E. Wesloski —Pennsylvania State Police, May 26, 1986
• Sergeant George F. Opelski —West Norriton Township Police, Sept. 13, 1986
• Officer Edward M. Setzer —Lower Merion Township Police, Sept. 20, 1988
• Officer Thomas M. Barone —Norristown Borough Police, Oct. 11, 1992
• Special Agent Charles L. Reed —F.B.I. Lansdale Office, March 22, 1986
• Officer Richard V. Lawn Jr. —Lower Gwynedd Township Police, July 28, 2003
• Sergeant James R. Miller —Upper Dublin Township Police, April 20, 2004
• Officer Bradley M. Fox —Plymouth Township Police, Sept. 13, 2012
• Trooper David Kedra —Pennsylvania State Police, Sept. 30, 2014

(Dino Ciliberti/Patch)