Wednesday, June 25

photographed a memorial service for two lawmen killed 75 years ago. the local sheriff Roger Wilson, and missouri state-trooper Ben Booth, the first to die in the line of duty, were shot by suspected bank robbers at a roadblock in 1933. the story of that day was recited by a highway patrol historian. i was moved by the inclusion of the story of the survivors, the wives and children left behind to endure the Depression. there were no death benefits for troopers at the time.

Rae Jesse, a niece of the state trooper, placed roses on the grave of Alice Booth who raised two children on her own after her husband's murder. “She was a trooper, too,” Jesse said.



No comments:

Post a Comment