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SPANISH FORK — A steady stream of people flooded an LDS chapel in Spanish Fork Tuesday night to pay their respects to Sgt. Wride and his family.
The group included Sgt. Wride's fellow deputies and everyone gathered to offer their condolences to his immediate family. The viewing gave the community an opportunity to remember Wride for his service as a police officer and as a man who loved his family.
With a police escort, the hearse carrying the body of Sgt. Cory Wride slowly pulled up to an LDS chapel for the viewing. Officers from the Fraternal Order of Police have stood watch over his casket 24 hours a day since he was killed on Thursday.
Hundreds of photos were on display at the viewing that showed the kind of love for life and love for family that Wride embodied.
Police families and friends of police gathered to tie massive blue ribbons around trees and poles in remembrance of Wride. The Wride family said the support has given them comfort during their time of grief.
"You have to get involved somehow," said a police officer's wife, Sarah Knight. "It's a good release. It gives you a way to deal with the issue."
The 1033 organization has been in Utah for just three years but has assisted the families of four fallen officers since that time. The number 1033 is the police radio code for an officer in need, and the foundation's goal is to present a check for $25,000 to a fallen officer's family within 24 hours of their death.
- The flag has been at more than 1,000 funerals and memorials for law enforcement, firefighters and soldiers.
- It has also been in space and orbited the planet more than 250 times.
- The flag is considered a national treasure.
- The flag is NEVER unfolded.
- This is the first time the flag has been in Utah.
- The flag's only mission is to travel to Military and Law Enforcement funerals.
"This buys them a little bit of peace of mind at a time when there is no other way to thank them for their sacrifice," said Utah 1033 Foundation representative Mona Steen. "It's heartbreaking for those families. It's heartbreaking to us when we deliver those checks, but it's heartwarming to know that we can help just a little bit after they have contributed so much to our safety and communities."
The foundation is supported by corporate sponsors as well as community donations, and it's that type of help that Wride's fellow officers said is helping his family cope with his loss.
Police officers from all over Utah and neighboring states will take part in Wride's funeral Wednesday at the UCCU Events Center at Utah Valley University at 11 a.m. The procession will go from I-15 and Center Street in Orem to Spanish Fork Main Street and the Spanish Fork Cemetery between about 1 and 3 p.m.
Schools will be dismissed early Wednesday in Spanish Fork. The city has invited all Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and residents of all ages to line the route of the funeral procession holding American Flags to show respect for Wride and his family.
The funeral will be broadcast on Channel 5.2 at 11 a.m. and will be live streamed on KSL.com.
