Officers, troopers, paramedics, and firefighters joined hundreds of people from the general public as they lined US Hwy 117, from Mt. Olive to near Goldsboro in honor of fallen Wayne County Trooper Nolan J. Sanders on Tuesday morning.
The NC Highway Patrol had asked the public not to line the roadway out of respect for the COVID-19 precautions ordered by the Governor, but they came out anyway. A Highway Patrol motorcycle unit led the procession to the cemetery where the Trooper was also honored with a Highway Patrol helicopter fly-over.
US 117 was shut down as hundreds of law enforcement, fire and tow company vehicles flowed past the private funeral services for Trooper Sanders.
Authorities promised that once the current emergency has passed, a larger, public, memorial will be scheduled.
Photos by John Payne
