For the past 11 years, Julie Sisk has attended Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Day Service to honor the memory of her grandfather, Paul Winquist.

This year, was no different.

Holding a blue carnation, Sisk and Niles Chief of Police Jim Millin made their way down a brick path to lay the flower on a memorial stone Thursday in Lake Bluff Park in St. Joseph.

The event was organized by the Blossomland Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 100. During the ceremony more than a dozen local officers who died while on duty were honored. Hundreds attended the ceremony to pay their respects.

“This is the least we can do and it is what we need to do to respect our fallen officers, nationwide and right here in Berrien County,” Millin said. “Our officers feel it is a privilege to come here and do this.”

Four Niles officers were recognized, including Patrolman Clarence Shockley, Vance Cooper and Winquist and Michigan State Trooper, Steven Devries. The memorial also paid homage to most recently fallen Joseph Zangaro, a security supervisor and Ronald Kienzle, a court officer. Both were killed in the Berrien County Courthouse shooting on July 11, 2016.

Before the individual names of officers were read aloud for recognition, Michigan State Police Chaplain Carl Bassett, spoke.

“May their memory stand forever,” Bassett said. “The memories they have made with us will continue to live on.”

Some in the audience cried quietly as Bassett spoke.

Bassett reminded those listening that memorial services such as this can help to heal the pain of those suffering the loss of a loved one.

“It unites people who have been through similar things,” Bassett said. “We take comfort in remembering our deepest loves.”

For Sisk, the ceremony is a way to remember the man who helped to inspire her to take an interest in protecting and serving the city of Niles through police work.

Winquist served on the Niles police force as a detective captain. He died in 1980 of heart attack while on duty. At the time, Sisk said he had been working on a tough investigation that put him under a lot of stress.

Sisk was 12 years old at the time of his death. Other members of Sisk’s family have served on area police forces, so the profession has always been in her blood, she said, though she credits her grandfather’s memory for playing a role in inspiring her to serve the Niles Police Department.

“He was an awesome guy who always spent lots of time with his [family],” Sisk said. “He was a big family guy. I remember how much he loved his job.”

Sisk served as a Niles Police Department reserve officer and now heads the Niles Police Department’s volunteer services program. Additionally, Sisk works in cyber security forensics for a private company.

“I am sure [Winquist] would be proud that his granddaughter served as a reserve officer,” Millin said.

As Bassett closed his speech, he reminded those grieving why officers put their lives on the line.

“Every single one of them patrolled and worked with pride and honor,” Bassett said. “Doing whatever they had to do and [serving] whenever called upon, regardless of the risk.”