Man Holds Umbrella Over Cop While He Waits To Salute Officer During Funeral Procession
A photo of a citizen holding an umbrella over a cop has gone viral for all the right reasons. The tearjerking scene took place during a funeral procession in Mentor, Ohio.
On July 2, crowds stood quietly as a 145-car procession made its way down the Mentor streets during a public funeral procession for Patrolman Mathew Mazany.
The 41-year-old officer lost his life in the line of duty on June 24 during a hit-and-run.
Officers and citizens lined the streets to pay their respects to the fallen officer. One of the women present was Laura Weber, who noticed a moment so beautiful, she couldn’t help but snap a photo.
The photo depicted an officer standing in the summer sun, saluting his fallen comrade.
Standing just behind him was an unidentified younger man, holding an umbrella over the officer’s head.
“If anyone knows who this young man is, holding an umbrella over this officer saluting Mazany’s funeral procession in this crazy heat…
Tell him thank you,” Weber wrote online. “What a good person.”
Another photo showed the man, later identified as Marko Gorshe, holding his hat behind his back with one arm, while shading the officer with his other arm.
The simple act of solidarity and respect has left viewers feeling encouraged.
“Thank you young man for thinking of someone else,” one Facebook user wrote. “And thanks to all who put their lives on the line for us.”
Mazany had been with the Mentor Police Department for almost 14 years. He left behind his wife, Lisa, and son, Mathew.
Lisa Mazany released a statement, thanking the community for their condolences and support.
“Through our grief and tears, my family and I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the community and to the Mentor Police Department for the outpouring of support that we have received,” Lisa Mazany stated.
“We are humbled and so deeply touched beyond words by our community for standing with us and supporting us through this tragedy.”
Colleagues spoke highly of Mazany, saying he loved his job. Mazany had wanted to be a police officer ever since he was a kid, following in the footsteps of his father.
“He’s a hero now,” said Mazany’s best friend Jamie Bassell. “To the community and you guys.”
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