Procession to Catawba County honors fallen corrections officer

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — The community gathered Thursday to honor one of the four heroes who died Monday afternoon in a shootout.

Corrections officer Alden Elliott was brought back to Hickory in a procession Thursday morning. Dozens lined the roads as people showed their support for the brave men. Some even set up chairs and flags hours before the procession arrived in Catawba County.

Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the long procession of police and emergency vehicles heading north on Highway 16 to Catawba County. Channel 9′s Dave Faherty learned that deputies escorted Elliott’s family, including his wife and son, to Charlotte and back to Newton.

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Procession held for fallen correctional officer Alden Elliott A procession was held for Alden Elliott, one of the four officers killed in the line of duty Monday. Agencies and individuals saluted the cars that would take Elliott to his funeral in Catawba.

The deputies all wore black bands over their badges to remember Elliott and the other officers killed Monday when they went to serve a warrant at an east Charlotte home.

Elliott and his family lived in Newton, where he graduated from Newton-Conover High School. He was a U.S. Marine and for the past 14 years, worked for the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. He was also on the U.S. Marshals Carolinas Regional Task Force.

Not only did people line the streets, but Faherty also saw truck drivers getting out of their big rigs to honor the officer.

Larry Bradham, who’s from Charlotte, arrived early to honor Elliott.

“This man gave his life. What could be more important than show some respect towards them?” he said.

“We need to come out and pay our respects. When things happen, these are the guys we called,” said resident Stephanie Turner.

Tracy Newby came out with her teenage daughter. She has a friend who is a U.S. Marshal.

“This really hit me where it hurts,” she said. “And I thought she should share in how patriotic the moment is.”

Jeff Moore held a flag and his hat as the procession passed near his home.

“It’s more important for these folks than it is for me,” he said. “They just lost a loved one, I want to show that we respect them and love them as well.”

Many still can’t believe so many officers were killed and injured while doing their job.

“We work alongside the law enforcement here in Catawba County and it’s just devastating,” said Adam Caldwell with Midnight Special Towing.

A memorial service with military honors to celebrate Elliott’s life will be held at 6 p.m. on May 9 at the Tarlton Complex on the campus of Catawba Valley Community College. That auditorium can hold as many as 2,000 people.

A son’s recollection

Elliott’s son, Theo, wrote the obituary for his father. The words shine a light on the relationship the two had and the hobbies they shared.

Read Theo’s obituary below:

“My daddy is a hero.

He died getting the bad guys, that’s what he was good at.

He is a Marine.

He is a Police Officer.

He is kind and patient.

He keeps my mom and I safe.

He is my daddy; the best daddy.

We love playing video games together. He really likes Mario, Zelda, and Metroid Return of Samus.

We collect Pokemon cards. I have a Charizard that he helped me get graded.

He and I have watched every Star Wars movie and series.

My daddy loves playing and watching baseball. His favorite team is the Dodgers.

He is an expert marksman, perfect score every time.

For my 12th birthday he bought me a dirt bike. He bought himself one too, so that we could ride together.

I will learn how to ride it and we will ride together one day, Daddy.

He was the best man I will ever know.

And I hope to be just like him.”

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