K27 Forever Memorial dedicated during emotional ceremony

COEUR d’ALENE — Lindy Moore lifted her sunglasses to better dab her eyes with a tissue as her tears fell onto the lectern.

"It is comforting to know how Greg is remembered. Seeing his call sign on cars and businesses around town has brightened our days,” said Coeur d'Alene Police Sgt. Greg Moore's widow, pausing and unable to speak for a moment.

"Gemma often spots the K27 stickers from her car seat and always says, ‘Look there’s Daddy’s numbers. They must be thinking about Daddy, too."

Lindy's voice was soft into the microphone as the waters of the K27 Forever Memorial in McEuen Park rushed into a pool behind her, beyond a rock that will forever bear the familiar, smiling face of the hero who was shot and killed in the line of duty May 5, 2015.

She addressed hundreds of community members, loved ones and law enforcement personnel who attended the official dedication of the memorial Tuesday afternoon.

"Greg would love it," she said. "The design perfectly reflects his love of nature. The location, in the heart of our city, represents his love for Coeur d’Alene and his innate ability to bring people together. For the rest of our lives, our family will come here and remember him — the love, the laughter, the lessons, the way he lived for others.

"Thank you for helping us keep Greg’s memory alive," she said. "Thank you for loving our family and thank you for embodying the true meaning of community."

The brief ceremony began when two helicopters soared overhead. People shielded their eyes from the sun and snapped photos as they watched them fly south over McEuen.

Then the sound of drums, followed by bagpipes and the Coeur d'Alene Police Honor Guard's presentation of colors.

The K27 Forever Memorial honors Moore as well as the service and sacrifice of his brothers and sisters in law enforcement. The dedication took place on Peace Officer's Memorial Day.

"The degree to which a slain officer is mourned varies from city to city. In some places, there's a grand funeral and a few news stories, and then it seems only the officer's family and fellow officers remember in the years that follow. Our community is different," said Coeur d'Alene Police Chief Lee White. "Our city understands that the police and the community are in this together, that we work cooperatively to keep each other safe and the impact of a loss such as Greg's takes much more time to reconcile."

Mayor Steve Widmyer, who, with the Panhandle Parks Foundation was among the first to generate support for the memorial, said Greg was many things — popular, confident, charming, brave, hilarious, devoted — but he will always be remembered as a hero.

"To Fred and Sherri Moore, your son is a hero. To Fred Jr. and Christopher, your brother is a hero. To all the rest of Greg's family and friends, Greg Moore is a hero. To Lindy Moore, your husband is a hero, and to Dylon and Gemma Moore, your dad is a hero," Widmyer said. "Sgt. Moore will live on forever in the thoughts of us that honor his bravery and courage. Greg Moore will live on forever in the hearts of those that he loved and those that loved him.

"This memorial will always show that our community supports law enforcement, and that we will always honor K27 Sgt. Greg Moore."