Community Comes Together to Honor Fallen Officer William ‘Alden’ Elliott, Son Pays Heartbreaking Tribute to ‘Best Man I Will Ever Know
Hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects to Officer William “Alden” Elliott, a 14-year veteran officer who was killed in the line of duty on Monday. A procession of law enforcement officers from across North Carolina drove from Charlotte to Newton to honor their fallen brother, with blue lights blanketing the highway.
Officer Elliott’s son wrote a heartbreaking obituary, describing his father as a hero who “died getting the bad guys.” The young boy shared fond memories of playing video games, collecting Pokémon cards, and watching Star Wars movies with his father. He also mentioned their shared love of baseball and dirt biking, and expressed his hope to be like his father one day.
The community came together to support Officer Elliott’s family, lining the procession route and paying tribute to a man who was dedicated to serving and protecting others. Melinda Hodge, who attended the procession, said, “I know the family and they’re good, and they do a lot in this community, so we just need to support them and pray for them.”
Officer Elliott was a member of the US Marshals Task Force and a Marine, and his service and sacrifice were honored with a memorial service with military honors. The service will be held on Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m. at the Tarlton Complex on the campus of Catawba Valley Community College.
The outpouring of support from the community and law enforcement agencies across the state is a testament to the impact Officer Elliott had on those around him. His son’s tribute is a poignant reminder of the personal sacrifices made by officers like Elliott, who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe.
