PLAINFIELD, Ind — The sound of bagpipes echoed through the darkness on a cold December night, lit up by flashing police lights. A garrison flag overhead reminded those gathered why they were there.
Tuesday night, members of Indiana's law enforcement community and their families came together to honor those killed in the line of duty this past year and in years past.
The annual gathering, held at Plainfield's Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, is called Project Blue Light for the Holidays.
"Tonight, we are here to honor all the Indiana fallen officers," Jerry Baker told the crowd of several hundred, among them family members of law enforcement killed in the line of duty in Indiana. Baker's son, Jason, is one of those.
It's been 22 years since Jason Baker, who was a Marion County Sheriff's Office deputy, was killed in the line of duty.
"People think we get better, but our grief does not go away, nor does it shrink. It's always there," Baker told the crowd.
And it was there Tuesday as the names of the fallen were read, including the seven law enforcement officers in Indiana who died this year, among them Marion County Sheriff's Deputy John Durm, Indiana State Police Trooper Aaron Smith and Johnson County Sheriff's Deputy Timothy Guyer.
"It's heartbreaking to watch these new families experience this for the first time," said Carolyn Dudley, who was once in those new family's shoes. It's been 17 years since Dudley's husband, Indiana State Police Lt. Gary Dudley, was killed in the line of duty.
"You see the place at the table that's empty. You see the presents that will never be opened," Carolyn recalled.
It's a feeling Aaron Clapp remembers all too well. His father, Town Marshal Mark Clapp, was killed in the line of duty 20 years ago Tuesday.
"We're a Christmas family and so, man, that was a punch in the gut," Clapp recalled.
Aaron was only 21 at the time. Today, he's a town marshal just like his dad and came to hear his father's name read out loud at Project Blue Light.
"It's just surreal because in some respects, it doesn't even seem like it was three years ago," Aaron said.
It's a club none of the survivors like Aaron ever wanted to be a part of, but they are. They come together every year to remember the fallen and support each other at a time of year when you think about the people you love the most.