“The hardest thing are the funerals, but that’s the way we show our respect,” said Officer Hector Padilla of the Airway Heights Corrections Center (AHCC) near Spokane.

Padilla serves on the Honor Guard at AHCC and attends ceremonies and memorial services across the country as a representative of the Department of Corrections.

Back in May, Padilla honored one of his own. Brian Roberts, a 52-year old officer at Airway Heights, passed away and was memorialized at the Dishman Baptist Church in Spokane. “Brian was a great guy,” Padilla said. “If you were having a bad day, he would always make you laugh.”

A plaque at the entrance of the facility commemorates Officer Roberts and his co-workers who have died while employed there.

Padilla has been on staff at Airway Heights so long he knows everyone whose name is on the plaque. In all, he’s been with the DOC for 23 years. Before that, Padilla served 21 years in the U.S. Army as an MP and went on tours of duty in Vietnam and Desert Storm.

He started the Honor Guard at Airway Heights years ago, together with fellow Officer Terry Bollinger. This month, Padilla and Bollinger will attend the BC Law Enforcement Memorial in Vancouver, Canada. “They come down to support us. Now it’s our turn to return the favor,” Padilla says.

There will be more Honor Guard deployments over the next year. Then, next August, after 43 years of service to our country and to the residents of the State of Washington, Officer Hector Padilla will be hanging up his uniform.

Thank you, Officer Padilla, and the rest of the DOC Honor Guard for your exceptional service and for honoring our fallen heroes.