A mix of local residents and others from across the region and state came together Saturday in the far south-western corner of Clinton County for Trooper Island Camp Appreciation Day.

Trooper Island Camp, located on Dale Hollow Lake, began its 48th camping season this week when some 60 underprivileged boys and girls, ages 10-12, made the trip across the water on the Trooper Island barge.

Saturday’s Appreciation Day is traditionally held to mark the beginning of yet another camping season for the facility, but also to recognized the fallen members of the Kentucky State Police agency who have been killed in the line of duty.

That ceremony was held near the bronze memorial plaque that bears the names of the Troopers who have been killed in the line of duty, and also houses a KSP blue light that remains on 24 hours a day throughout the year, shown in the middle photo.

On hand to take part in the Fallen Trooper ceremony Saturday included Kentucky State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer and the Camp Director, KSP Sgt. Craig Sutton.

The ceremony included a presentation by the award winning Kentucky State Police Honor Guard unit, shown in the photo at top, who stood at attention while the names of those who had been killed in the line of duty were aloud, while another member of the unit displayed a photograph of each fallen officer.

One of those troopers who was killed in the line of duty was Trooper Mack E. Brady, whose portrait is being displayed by the Honor Guard member in the bottom photo, while Director Sutton calls his name.

Brady was killed in 1966, at the age of 40, in a vehicle crash while he was responding to an emergency call.

KSP Commissioner Brewer recently conveyed a touching story concerning a new development in the Brady case. That account can be found on Brewer’s blog site on the internet: http://kentuckystatepolice.blogspot.com/

Saturday also included a fundraising silent auction, inflatable attractions for the younger crowd on hand, lunch and entertainment from an Elvis impersonator.

The crowd was also afforded the opportunity to meet two of Kentucky’s newest celebrities, Bopper and Mark, best friends from Manchester, Kentucky, who competed this past season on the television reality show, The Amazing Race.

Operated by the Kentucky State Police but funded entirely through donations, Trooper Island Camp each year gives some 700 underprivileged 10-12 year old youth the opportunity to enjoy a free week of summer camp that they likely wouldn’t be able to enjoy otherwise.

The concept behind the camp is to expose those young campers who come from likely “at-risk” environments, to a week of summer camp activities while at the same time, enjoying those activities side by side with sworn officers from the Kentucky State Police.

Normal camp activities include swimming, canoeing, sports, rifle and archery instruction, computer skills, arts and crafts, as well as special safety and nature instructional presentations from various agencies which hold special classes for the campers.