Remembering a hero

School pays tribute to fallen police officer at Memorial Day event

CASEY RESSLER

Frontiersman Valley Life Editor

For this year's Memorial Day, students at Palmer Junior Middle School paid tribute to Palmer Police Officer James Rowland Jr., who was killed in the line of duty almost six years ago, at a school assembly Friday.

The Rowland family was on hand, as were veterans and representatives of several Palmer-area organizations. Palmer Police Officer James Gipson addressed the students and gave a powerful speech about how inspirational Rowland was and still is to the men and women who wear the uniform.

"Jim Rowland was and continues to be a hero," Gipson said. "He exemplifies all the integrity and the traits that are looked for in the perfect police officer. I have a sense of pride standing up here in front of you today wearing the same uniform Jim wore, wearing the same badge Jim wore with pride."

Rowland was killed on June 15, 1999 in the Palmer Carrs parking lot.

"When the call came in, Jim responded, as he had done hundreds of times before," Gipson told the students.

Rowland responded to a man slumped over his steering wheel. In the early-morning hours, a struggle ensued, and the man shot Rowland. Despite what turned out to be a fatal wound, Rowland returned fire.

"A community lost a hero, a family lost a loved one," an emotional Gipson said. "Jim Rowland Jr. was an extraordinary man."

Gipson pointed out that Rowland was just doing his job, and working in public safety is a dangerous job, but one that needs to be done.

"Our safety is fragile and will always need defenders," Gipson said.

While the assembly honored Rowland and his family, it also paid tribute to the men and women who have served or are still serving in the military.

Former Palmer Junior Middle School student Cambria Moss sang two patriotic songs, accompanied by her father, Randy, who played the piano. Another former PJMS student, Randi Bernier, sounded "Taps" on her trumpet during the ceremony.

During the assembly, a representative from Carr-Gottstein made a $1,000 donation to the Rowland Memorial Fund.

Following the assembly, at which students were very respectful, Rowland's parents, James Rowland Sr. and Wanda Rowland, went outside the school and released red, white and blue balloons as a tribute to their son.

The Memorial Day assembly was a first for the middle school.

In November, the school hosted its first Veterans' Day assembly, which students received warmly.

"It's important for our students to understand what those days are really about," said PJMS parent-teacher organization president Katie Mangelsdorf. "The qualities that are recognized at these assemblies are qualities that we want all our children to think about, take into their hearts, and work toward achieving.

"These honorable, selfless, and courageous qualities build sterling characters that our society needs so much to see expressed today in deeds," Manglesdorf said.