Utah Community Surprises Woman With Ceremony Honoring Fallen Detective
Nov 21, 2019, 11:25 PM | Updated: 11:29 pm
LAPOINT, Utah — Members of a Utah community surprised a woman with a ceremony to honor her father, Kevin Orr, who served as a detective for the Uintah County Sheriff’s Office.
Orr died in the line of duty 13 years ago Thursday in a helicopter crash during a search for a missing woman.
“I remember my dad every day,” said Orr’s daughter, Jessica Anderson. “My mom remembers my dad every day, my siblings, we all do. But sometimes it seems like nobody else does.”
Anderson, now 24 years old, has spent past anniversaries visiting her father’s headstone at the Lapoint Cemetery, alone.
Kevin Orr’s headstone at the Lapoint Cemetery.
She had no idea others would be at the cemetery on Thursday.
“Half of my life had gone by without my dad. It was my half mark and I have lived more days without him than with him,” she said. “I remember that day clearly. I was three weeks away from 12 years old. It was a bittersweet day because it had seemed like it would ever get there, but it has.”
That passage of time was something discussed during Thursday night’s memorial.
“I just appreciate all of you guys,” said Vance Norton, who is also a detective with the Uintah County Sheriff’s Office and worked with Orr. “I’m excited to one day see him again.”
The dozen or so people who attended spoke about how life continues to move forward, which is another reason why they felt it’s so important to continue to talk about Orr.
“It’s been 13 years and we have new deputies, new officers coming through and they just don’t know if we don’t keep it going and keep the memory there,” Norton said.
That’s also why some of Orr’s colleagues, friends and even members of the Patriot Guard Riders went to the cemetery.
Some of Orr’s colleagues, friends and even members of the Patriot Guard Riders went to the cemetery Thursday.
After all these years, they wanted Anderson to know that, even with her mom and siblings having moved out of state, she’s not alone.
“It’s important. This is what it’s all about,” Norton said.
They said it’s also important Orr is remembered, no matter how much time passes.
“It means a lot,” Anderson said. “It’s appreciated.”
Jessica Anderson hugs Vance Norton, who worked with her father.
