MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As thousands of people gathered inside Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova many people also lined the streets outside the church to pay their respects.
On an overcast day, bright blue lights escorted Officer Sean Bolton to his final resting place.
Thousands of cars were stopped on the interstate as Memphis honored a hero.
“Just an officer that was doing his job,” said Kristy Vatter, who was standing along Appling Road with her two-year-old great nephew Nathan.
“He can look back on it and I can tell him we were here and why we were here,” she explained.
“You have someone who goes out there everyday and risks their lives for the community,” said Cory Campbell who was standing just up the road from Vatter.
Campbell said he wanted to teach his daughters a lesson.
As the hearse carrying Bolton passed by many waved flags, held signs, and put their hands over their hearts.
Not only was Bolton a Police Officer, he was also a Veteran.
He was a Marine, who served a tour in a Iraq.
Bobby Harrison is a veteran too, and he said it was his duty to attend Thursday.
“War is not pretty of any kind. Of course he put his life on the line every day,” he explained.
Vatter hoped Thursday’s overwhelming attendance sent a message.
“It’s just very important to show the community and all the communities because all lives matter. Does not matter why religion or color you are. All lives matter,” she said.
Hundreds of police cars and first responder units were part of the procession.
WREG spotted some from as far away as Louisiana and Little Rock, Arkansas.