WILLIAMSON COUNTY, IL (WSIL) -- An emotional day for the region as fallen Officer Brian Pierce, Jr. is laid to rest. The 24-year-old, who lived in Carbondale, was killed in the line of duty on August 4th while working in the Metro East.
The took place on Saturday at John A. Logan college, which is where visitation services were also held the day before.
A strong show of force among first responders led a procession from the college, through Herrin, to his final resting place in Blairsville Cemetery.
On top of being an officer for the Brooklyn Police Department, Pierce was also a Lieutenant and Fire Investigator at the Makanda Fire Department where he started in 2016.
The department's pumper was the only fire vehicle in the final procession and represented his final ride.
News 3 caught up with Assistant Fire Chief Josh Lipe and shared how he wants Pierce to be remembered.
"As people think about Brian, I want them to remember his service and the life that he had," Lipe explains. "Not just the physical life but the life that he brought to us, to the job as a whole."
Throughout his time of service, he also worked for the Spillertown Police Department, Franklin County Emergency Management Agency and Elkville Fire among others.
Former police officers viewing the procession tell News 3 they wanted to stand strong for their fallen brother.
"The police officers out there today can feel rest assured that we're behind them," says former officer Bob Russell, who posted up on the Wolf Creek overpass flying an American flag.
Yvonne Hunter-Johnson, a former officer in the Bahamas, viewed the process near its starting point, saying, "I'm a former police officer of 18 years, and I feel that what happened here was just so sad and it's my way to show respect and honor to a fallen brother."
Dozens of community members also lined the funeral procession route to show their respect.
Prior to the visitation and funeral, volunteers placed nearly to line the roadways. They're asking for volunteers to help take them down Sunday. Those wanting to help out can meet at the John A. Logan parking lot at Noon.
