People lined Highway 49 in Byron as a procession of law enforcement from across the state passed by on their way to Sergeant Patrick Sondron's funeral. Madison Cavalchire stopped by to see how Central Georgians are showing their support.
"Not everyone is prepared to do this," Erik Lowry said. "Not everyone is willing to make the sacrifices that they have chosen to do for us."
Sacrifice -- and service -- to Central Georgia.
That's why the community gathered Thursday to line Highway 49 in Byron.
"Patrick took me on some tour trips that I went on," Kathy Hayes said. "He was a bus driver. Just about a month ago, I hit a deer on Moseley Road, and Daryl Smallwood came to do a police report."
To the people here, fallen officers Sergeant Patrick Sondron and Deputy Daryl Smallwood weren't just familiar faces around town, they were protectors of peace.
"The least we can do is when they make the ultimate sacrifice, show how much we appreciate them," Lowry said. "They're there when we call, and when we ask them to show, they are there."
They say when an officer falls, the community must lift each other up.
"With the elections and everything going on, with everybody being so divided, I think this is something else to bring us closer together as a community," Keisma Shannon said.
Officers from as far away as Oglethorpe and Douglasville were a part of the procession.