A ceremony took place Wednesday in Columbia to remember the seven South Carolina police officers killed in the line of duty.

Four of the fallen were from Charleston: Lonnie Wells and Marcus Stiles, shot and killed in March of 2007 after responding to a domestic violence call.  Constable Robert Bailey was on a routine traffic stop May 14 was killed.  His body was found four days later.  Corporal Michael Deese was killed with his canine partner after a driver plowed into his car and hit him head on.

"They said Mike's been in an accident. I said is he ok..and he hesitated a while," said Michael Deese's father, Harold Deese. "I lost it.  I started screaming oh God, you can't do this God."

His parents, widow and 4-year-old daughter were there to remember who they lost, an only child, a devoted father and dedicated officer.

"This is what he was called to be, a police officer. He said he wanted that all his life," Mary Anne Deese, Michael Deese's Stepmother said.

All seven men were honored for the lives they led and the price they paid.

Not far from everyone's minds today, Corporal William Howell Jr.  The Orangeburg County Deputy shot and killed Saturday as he was responding to a domestic violence call in Holly Hill.

Also honored today were the former 9th Circuit Solicitor Ralph Hoisington who died of cancer last summer and former Mt. Pleasant Police Chief Roddy Perry.

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