‘Blue Light’ Wreath Honors Bucks County's Fallen Officers

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Joined by law enforcement officials from throughout Bucks County, the county’s Board of Commissioners on Wednesday lit the Project Blue Light wreath for the 2023 holiday season.

The wreath will remain lit through the holidays in honor of 16 law enforcement officers from Bucks County who died in the line of duty. Adorned with blue lights and white ornaments – one ornament for each fallen officer – the wreath is displayed from the third floor of the rotunda in the County Administration Building.

“The safety and security we enjoy here in Bucks County has not come cheap. It is the result of the service and sacrifice of our county’s law enforcement professionals – some of whom have given the ultimate sacrifice,” said Commissioner Chair Bob Harvie. “We're honored to light this wreath, to speak their names and to keep their memories alive during this holiday season.”

Bucks County Commissioner Chair Bob Harvie speaks to a group of law enforcement officials Wednesday, Dec. 6, during the annual ceremonial lighting of the County's Project Blue Light holiday wreath. (Bucks County)

This year’s honor roll includes:

• Pennsylvania State Deputy Constable Erwin Mondeau, 1898
• Pennsylvania State Constable Henry A. Kolbe, 1914
• Bucks County Sheriff Abram L. Kulp, 1927
• Quakertown Borough Police Officer Edward W. Shearer, 1936
• Dublin Borough Police Chief Eli M. Myers, 1965
• Bristol Township Police Detective George F. Stuckey, 1972
• Bensalem Township Police Officer James K. Armstrong, 1975
• Bensalem Township Police Officer Robert A. Yezzi, 1980
• Bucks County Deputy Sheriff Thomas A. Bateman, 1986
• Bucks County Deputy Sheriff George M. Warta, Jr., 1986
• Bucks County Ranger Stanley E. Flynn, 1993
• Plumstead Township Police Officer Joseph E. Hanusey III, 2002
• Newtown Borough Police Officer Brian S. Gregg, 2005
• Middletown Township Police Officer Christopher C. Jones, 2009
• Bucks County Ranger Thomas Booz, 2020
• Warrington Township K9 Officer Stephen C. Plum, 2022

A crowd of law enforcement officers and officials looks on as Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub speaks Wednesday, Dec. 6, during the County's annual ceremonial lighting of its Project Blue Light holiday wreath. (Bucks County)

Project Blue Light is a nationwide observance begun more than 30 years ago by Dolly Craig of Philadelphia.

In 1988, Craig placed two blue candle lights in the window of her home: one in honor of her son-in-law, Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Gleason, killed in the line of duty 1986; and one for her daughter Pam, Gleason’s wife, who died in an auto crash in 1988. The couple had six children.

Warrington Township Police Chief Dan Friel, who serves as President of the Bucks County Police Chief's Association, addresses gathered law enforcement and government officials Dec. 6 during the annual ceremonial lighting of the County's Project Blue Light holiday wreath.

Craig wrote of her simple gesture to Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) an organization dedicated to families of fallen officers, which helped the idea take hold nationally.