As the one-year anniversary of a Pennsylvania police officer's death approaches, his widow says she hopes her husband will be remembered with joy instead of sadness.
"Always kiss them goodbye, and tell them you love them. At least I know I told him I loved him before it happened," Rosemarie Reed said.
Those were the last words she spoke to her husband, Officer Lloyd Reed, before his last shift nearly a year ago. Lloyd was shot and killed on Nov. 28, 2015, while responding to a domestic dispute in New Florence, Pennsylvania.
The man charged in his death, Ray Shetler, is still awaiting trial. As the one-year anniversary of Reed's death approaches, his wife is remembering her husband for the man behind the badge.
"I just wanted people to remember him -- that he was a caring person and would do anything for anybody and would never ask. And he loved, loved, loved to tell stories," she said.
The couple would have celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary on Friday. Rosemarie Reed said she's getting by with support from her family, friends and her husband's former colleagues, like Officer Vicki Walker.
"It really brought us close. After we were able to sit down and talk, we've built this bond that I can't live without. It's very special. It brings Lloyd back to life in a good way," Walker said.
A memorial to Lloyd Reed was dedicated last week in St. Clair Township, Pennsylvania. An engraved rock marks where he started and ended his shift each day.
"It means a lot to me that it's permanent, because he won't be forgotten, because I know I won't forget him," Rosemarie Reed said.
She smiled as she shared stories about her late husband, and she said she hopes those get her through the first anniversary of his death.
"Like I said, (we should) not make it such a sad time, but celebrate and memorialize him so that he's not forgotten," she said.
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