‘He was there, and he’ll always be there’ Watford City to honor fallen hero Keith Braddock
M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer
In the quiet stretches of long county roads, memories–especially those that are too important to let fade away–have a way of coming back to us. One of those is the memory of Officer Keith Braddock, who tragically lost his life serving the community he loved. March 20, 1996, was a day that broke the collective heart of McKenzie County. It was the day Officer Keith Braddock, Badge #1114, made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Now, three decades later, the community he served is ensuring that his name is not forgotten, but etched permanently into the geography of the place he called home.
On Friday, March 20, at 1:00 p.m., the city will gather at the intersection of 12th Street SE and 14th Avenue SE to formally dedicate Braddock Memorial Drive. For Chief Jesse Wellen, the physical sign is a long-overdue tribute. “The sign plays an important significance in his remembrance and his legacy,” Chief Wellen said. “Any person who dedicates their life to a lifetime of service to their nation and to their community is deserving of much more than we can offer. Braddock dedicated his life to Military and Law Enforcement service and paid the ultimate sacrifice in doing so. His legacy will live on forever, because we will not forget.”
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