In his walks around the driveway to the Halifax County Courthouse, the Rev. James W. Ellis always waves at the officers coming and going.

That’s why he showed up this morning as officers on a statewide tour honoring fallen officers stopped at the county’s memorial to pay tribute.

“It’s important to honor these men and women due to fact due they do such a tremendous job in upholding the law that we might have a little measure of peace and sleep at night,” Ellis said before the brief ceremony. “They’re least appreciated and I just believe people across the state ought to rally behind them and support them and be their eyes and ears and make their job much easier.”

Ellis said law enforcement gets little appreciation. “They lay down their lives daily. This is an example here of the men and women who gave their lives upholding the law and I just think they should have more attention and be appreciated more.”

The pastor said this is one way to say thanks. “We can show our appreciation by honoring these men and the wives they left behind and their families.”

The ride across the state began on May 7 and ended today with the tenth stop of the day in Durham, according to the North Carolina Project Lifesaver website.

North Carolina Project Lifesaver, Avery County Sheriff’s Office, Davie County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies have organized the memorial motorcycle ride across North Carolina in honor of all officers that have fallen in the line of duty.

Roanoke Rapids Police Officer Roy Ball joined the ride in Jackson where a similar ceremony was held. “It’s a way to remember fallen officers and what they did in the past which led to ultimate sacrifice.”

Lieutenant Tim Hux of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, who organized the event in Halifax, planned to ride with the officers to Raleigh. “It’s just a way to honor officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice and not let their memories die.”