More than 100 people gathered at Fullerton Memorial Park on Thursday, May 9, to honor local fallen officers before making a 200-mile journey to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
As part of the Police Unity Tour, officers from Moorestown and more than 100 local police departments stopped by area memorials dedicated to fallen officers.
The annual tradition began in 1997 to help raise awareness of officers who have died in the line of duty. Since then, the event has grown, reaching more than 1,800 riders.
According to Andy Cheney, PUT executive board president, there were only 14 officers in the southern New Jersey chapter when the organization began. It has grown to more than 300 participants, with eight chapters.
Police Sgt. Richard Gunning was the first of Moorestown to join the ride in 2007 with the northern New Jersey Chapter. Ptlm. George Huble joined a year later.
Huble said this is the first year Moorestown rode with the southern New Jersey chapter because the group was visiting local memorials. According to Huble, the Mooretown group has grown. Officer Bryan Wright reached his fourth year, while officers John Rulli and Ryan Carr tagged along for the first time.
Nine fallen local officers were honored the day before the group made the journey to D.C. Two officers served in Moorestown.
Frank Fullerton was killed in the line of duty in 1979 in an exchange of gunfire during a police chase. He was wounded during the shooting and died one month later. The park was dedicated in his honor on May 26, 1980.
Ptlm. George Clayton Ayres was killed in a car accident while on patrol in 1958. He served approximately one year with the department.
Fullerton’s son, Frank Jr., his daughter-in-law Kelly and other family members attended the ceremony. A gold rose was presented to the family as a token of appreciation.
“It was very overwhelming. When they told us, I didn’t realize it would be this many people riding,” Kelly said.
Each officer participating must raise a minimum of $1,750. The funds raised go to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum.
Over the years, PUT has raised more than $12 million, according to its website.
“The motto is ‘We Ride for Those Who Died,’ and no matter how hard it gets, we are able to ride bikes. The guys who are on the wall are unable to do that, so we just kind of suck it up. You work through weather and pain. You get a cramp you drink water. You do what you can to get down there,” Huble said.
For more information on the Police Unity Tour, visit www.policeunitytour.com, or to find out more about the memorial, visit www.nleomf.com.
