Today we laid Sgt. Jason 'Tye' Pratt to rest. About
1,300 officers representing nearly
100 agencies and another ~
4,500 dignitaries, family, friends, and citizens attended ceremonies.
I snapped a few photos that I'd like to share.
A cop buddy, Jim Donahue from Inkster, MI (outside Detroit), and yours truly in the parking lot before picking up a cruiser and rallying with other officers for the ride downtown.
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The 'Gauntlet of Honor' at the Civic Auditorium in downtown Omaha. I could have walked around and taken a half dozen pictures of this and not captured all the officers in attendance.
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Longmont, CO, the most traveled cruiser I spotted today. That's my fiancée in the passenger seat of my black-and-white.
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View inside one of the parking garages outside the Auditorium.
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Various shots of the processional route, lined with overwhelmingly supportive citizens holding their hearts, saluting and waving flags.
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The next two shots are of twin Omaha Fire Department aerial rigs with ladders crossed above the entrance to the cemetery, Old Glory hanging from the top rungs.
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Our brother and sister firefighters were everywhere along the processional route and had a strong presence at the place we would lay Jason to rest.
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The 'Gauntlet of Honor' at the cemetery. I snapped this photo early on in the assembly of uniformed cops. Within a half hour, it would become a sea of municipal police officers, deputies, and state troopers.
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A tandem row of police motorcycle units numbering about forty. When this group of Police Harley Davidsons fired up and rumbled away in the funeral procession's lead, it shook the ground and made my skin crawl. Very moving.
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(Equally moving were the three helos we had fly overhead in the 'Missing Man' formation, but I didn't get the camera aimed in time, nor did I get the 21-Gun Salute...chalk it up to the tears in my eyes.)
Jason's final farewell. *Rest in peace, brother.
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I'm drained...and am glad it's over. This is the second co-worker and friend I've seen buried since '95, and it's two cop funerals too many as far as I'm concerned.
Thanks a million for your support you guys. It won't be forgotten.
Jeff aka
Chain
PS- Here's a slideshow from the media:
LINK
Other media coverage can be seen at
omaha.com and
theomahachannel.com
PPS- I think I'm gonna take a break from the board for a few days guys, spend some time with the family and whatnot. Perhaps some miles aboard the bike will help clear the mind as well. I'll catch up to you all soon.......
