It was the support of the community and the support of Ogden City's leaders that sustained the Ogden Police Department in the difficult days after Agent Jared Francom's death, said Assistant Police Chief Eric Young at a presentation May 15 at the Hill Aerospace Museum.

The Boy Scouts hanging innumerable flags in the cold before the procession through the streets of the community, the mounting of a huge flag at the corner of 25th Street and Washington Avenue by the fire department, the outpouring of support from the lined streets by residents.

Young pointed out the fairly young leadership at the Ogden Police Department and in the post of Ogden mayor just prior to the events: "Mayor Mike Caldwell was sworn in office on Tuesday, January 3. He received a call on the evening of Wednesday, January 4, notifying him of six police officers being shot in Ogden city. He arrived at the hospital within minutes and stayed at the side of the police department in the days, weeks and months that continued, learning his new responsibilities and leading under the most difficult of circumstances.

"Assistant Chief Wayne Tarwater took the reins of acting police chief just days prior to the tragedy," said Young, also citing his dedication and leadership.

Young repeated a quote presented at one of the memorials by an Ogden resident attributed to Arthur Ashe:

"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at any cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost."

A recent memorial service was held May 3 at the Salt Lake Capitol where Francom's name was added to a memorial wall for the fallen. Young said, "At the end of the services, the Weber/Morgan Strike Force agents and Ogden Patrol Officers surrounded his picture and the pictures of other fallen (police officers). Those officers faced sheer terror but they served at whatever cost," Young said.

"It is the firm support of every man and woman in law enforcement and the armed services that sees us through difficult times and in sustaining the Constitution of the United States," the assistant police chief continued.

"The beginning of both oaths (of enlistment in the armed forces and of that of Ogden Police Officers) swear the support and defense of the United States Constitution," he said.

Young, the son of a fallen U.S. Army private in Vietnam and grandson of a U.S. Army and Navy veteran, finds much in common with those in military police services and he acknowledged the armed services' role in his formation.

"There are currently 33 members of the Ogden Police Department who have previously served or are currently serving in the armed forces," said Young. "There's an inter-reliability between the two."

"It is our duty as American citizens to honor those who sacrifice ... we're not here just to honor Jared but all others who would put hand upon their chest to stand firmly to uphold the United States Constitution."

He concluded, "We should always honor them in their service and remember them as they serve, including those who made the greatest of sacrifices."

The formal retreat was sponsored by the 75th Security Forces Squadron.