Dresden, Tenn.–Thursday night kicks off Iris Festival Week in Dresden with the parade, and this year the committee selected the Weakley County Sheriff’s Office as Grand Marshal in memory of Deputy Derrick Bonham, who was killed in the line of duty earlier this year.
The parade is at 7 p.m. Thursday in downtown Dresden.
Nicole Bonham said in a Facebook post:
“That title means more than leading a parade. It’s a sign of respect. Of gratitude. Of a community saying, we see what you carry, and we stand with you.
This department has experienced a loss we all wish never had to happen. And yet, they continue forward by serving, protecting, and showing up every single day with so much weighing on them. The memory of Derrick is not lost here. It’s carried. The emotions are real, and they are ongoing. Derrick was one of theirs, and the way they continue to carry him speaks to the kind of brotherhood and commitment that can’t be taught, it’s lived.
From deputies to investigators, correctional officers to dispatchers and administrators, they have continued to serve this county while also stepping in to support me and my children in ways I will never be able to fully put into words.
My hope Thursday night is simple. As they ride through town and see all the faces, the smiles, the waves, I hope they feel what this really means. That they are loved. That they are supported. That what they do, and what they give, does not go unnoticed.
So many people see the badge. Fewer understand what is put on the line every time a shift begins.
I can’t fully express the love and admiration I have for this office. They have stood with me and my family every step of the way and that is something I will carry with me always.”