In August of this year, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Mike Gallagher was killed when he collided with an elk on Highway 12, responding to all call for backup at the scene of a domestic disturbance.

Deputy Gallagher was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office for six years.

He left behind a wife and two young children.

Policemen and firefighters place themselves in harms way as a part of their regular duties, and their deaths are often seen as the ultimate sacrifice for keeping our communities safe.

For Jeffrey Mitchell of Sammamish, that sacrifice is one that should never go unrecognized.

In June of this year he started a group called Operation Bald Eagle, with a mission to pay tribute to the police, firefighters and defense force personnel who are killed in the line of duty, and offer support to their families.

On Friday, Sept. 11, Mitchell arranged a ceremony at the Sammamish City Hall, where the American Flag was flown at half-mast to honor Deputy Gallagher. That flag will be presented to Gallagher’s widow.

The ceremony was attended by Sammamish Police and Eastside Fire and Rescue officers, city staff, and a number of councilors.

Issaquah High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps members Zach Stone, Matt Hjelm and Dilara Dagler formed the color guard.

The flag ceremony was just one small part of what Mitchell calls project “Pick up the Pieces.”

“Pick up the pieces is about helping the families manage through the tough times ahead,” he said.

Supported by the donations of 22 local and regional business, Mitchell puts together a care package – a “Chest of Compassion” – which contains a specially-made quilt, a memorial trophy and memory box, as well as gift cards for goods and services.

“Sergeant Gallagher had two young children, and for his wife there will be some pressing financial needs that they need help with,” Mitchell said.

The Chest of Compassion includes vouchers for services like house cleaning.

“I have been knocking on doors, after work, and on weekends,” Mitchell said. “And I’ve had a really good success rate with businesses. Almost every one that I’ve approached has been able to give something.”

Earlier this year, Operation Bald Eagle honored Bellevue Police officer Christopher Glenn McOmber, who died of cancer at the age of 44.

Mitchell said the group was currently filing for nonprofit status, which will help with fundraising.

As an obviously very patriotic American, Mitchell has worked as a volunteer police officer in California, and with groups providing care packages for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Following the terrorist attacks in New York and Virginia in 2001 he put his hand up to serve overseas, but could not, because of his age.

Instead, he found another way to support the work of those to whom he is eternally grateful.

“These guys do everything for us,” Mitchell said. “Everyday they go out there, not knowing what they will face. And their spouses, too, never knowing what the end result will be. We want to be the 911 for these guys. This is one way we can support these patriots who do so much for us.”

To find out more about Mitchell’s Operation Bald Eagle, go to http://operationbaldeagle.com