LUCASVILLE — Corrections officers and administrators as well as their friends and family honored fallen comrades Tuesday during a memorial service at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF).

The 18th annual memorial service was dedicated to the employees and their families who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the performance of their duties.

“The staff at this facility and across the state is a family-oriented business. Any time a staff member pays the ultimate price in their profession, a family like corrections is going to find a moment to remember those folks,” SOCF Warden Donald Morgan said.

The keynote speaker for the event was Gary Mohr, director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.

“It is right that we’re here to pay respect to those who have come before us. SOCF is a great facility and I do not say that about all the facilities I visit,” Mohr said.

“The employees of Lucasville have long held a significant family bond. The culture of this prison is unique and is one that can only be understood by those employees who work here. SOCF has also been the victim of tragedy, the kind of loss that shakes our system to its core. It is that loss of life that we’re here to honor and remember. We’re here because those and others have gone before us,” Mohr said.

The fallen employees who were honored include Correction Officer Arthur Sprouse, Correction Officer Gary Underwood, Shop Forman Eric Bowling, Teacher Beverly Taylor and Correction Officer Robert (Bobby) Vallandingham.

The names of those employees are on a monument in front of the facility.

WAYNE ALLEN may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.