The line of police cars pulled to the side of the road, where uniformed officers stepped out and approached a house.
Waiting for them was Lloyd "Bud" Monroe, standing in front of his rural Franklin home.
Carefully, and keeping a safe distance, the officers lined up. At once, they saluted Monroe, showing a sign of respect to the retired major in the Indiana State Police.
Tears fell down Monroe’s face.
"We certainly appreciate it. You don’t know if anyone would think of us anymore, but they got everyone together," he said.
Dozens of area law enforcement officers, as well as friends and family, had come out to wish Monroe and his wife, Sharon, happy birthdays. Bud Monroe turned 88 on March 19, while Sharon Monroe turned 84 on March 29.
The celebratory parade lasted much of the day, and took up much of the roadway in front of the Monroes’ house. But for the officers who took part, it was the least they could do to show their appreciation for all that Bud Monroe had done.
"It’s very important to do things like this, to honor those who paved the path, because the (Indiana State Police) wouldn’t be what it was without people like Maj. Monroe. But it’s also a key reminder that we’re part of something much bigger than ourselves," said Trooper Joshua Thayer with the Indiana State Police. "To drive past his house, seeing how much it meant to him as we saluted him, it was a simple thing to do but such a meaningful thing to him. I’ll never forget it.
Bud and Sharon Monroe have been celebrating their close-together birthdays for more than 60 years. They were married on Dec. 10, 1960 in Aurora, and have been inseparable since.
In a normal year, they would have gathered with friends and family. But the ongoing pandemic didn’t allow for a large party. Instead, their granddaughter, Claire Meade, wanted to put together a show of love and appreciation that everyone could do safely.
"Much like many elderly people in our community, isolation and quarantine was hard because they could not be out and about and with their families," she said. "My grandpa is the sole caretaker for my grandmother who has Alzheimer’s and dementia. Their love story is one for the books."
Meade took her idea to her family, gauging how they would pull it off and who they’d get involved. Everyone was on board, and took time to invite people the Monroes had made an impact on throughout their lives.
After creating a graphic invitation, Meade emailed to anyone she could think of, asking people to send them birthday cards. The idea was, even if someone couldn’t make the parade, they could be a part of the celebration.
"My grandparents have left such a legacy in the lives of those who know them. I wanted to create something that would show them how much of an impact they have made on others," Meade said. "I wanted to give back to my grandparents in a way they would not expect. I wanted to create a memory that would last a lifetime — not only for my grandparents, but for everyone who would be in attendance."
Next, Meade reached out to the law enforcement community for help. Bud Monroe had been with the Indiana State Police for more than 30 years, and was well known among officers throughout Johnson County. She contacted the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and Franklin Police Department about participating in the parade. She also touched base with the Amity Fire Department about including a fire truck in the parade.
One of the most active contacts she had was Thayer.
"We exchanged countless emails, text messages, and phone calls to go over logistics," Meade said. "Not only did (he) plan the logistics for the parade, but he sent countless communications to troopers around the state to extend the invitation to them to join in the celebration for my grandparents."
Thayer had been presented the opportunity to help lead the effort by Sgt. John Perrine, the state police’s public information officer.
For him, it was an honor to oversee it.
"I’ve always had a passion for honoring those who came before us in any way we can. When he asked me to honor retired Maj. Monroe, after he served in the department for more than 30 years, it was a no-brainer," he said.
Thayer made sure that troopers from all districts knew about the parade, and helped line up participants from as far away as Jeffersonville. He also helped organize a moving gesture during the parade — getting a group of officers to exit their vehicles and stand at attention before Bud Monroe.
"He had told Claire that he would love to stand at attention with troopers again sometime. So I made it a point, after we drove past his house, to get out of the car and have one of the guys on our honor guard team call us to attention. We saluted him, and got back in the cars," he said. "It was a special moment, to see tears coming down his face as we saluted him."
The entire event was planned in secret, with the Monroes having no idea what was going to happen.
On the day of the parade, at around 6:30 p.m., Meade led her grandfather out of his house. Earlier that day, Sharon Monroe had unfortunately fallen and suffered a bad cut. Family members took her to the hospital, where she received stitches. She was unable to watch the parade herself, but was showered with cards and well-wishes.
Bud Monroe was surrounded by family members and friends, including the best man from his wedding. Slowly, police cruisers crept past him.
"I was dumbfounded. I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, what is all this?’" he said. "I didn’t know what to think."
Meade held her grandfather closely as the scene unfolded. To be able to pull this together was an indescribable feeling, she said.
"Bud and Sharon Monroe are not just my grandparents — they are my role models," she said. "I look up to my grandma and the love she has for others. I can only hope that I am able to make people feel as loved and cared about as she has. My grandpa is one of my heroes, not only for his service to our community, but for the way he leads everyone around him — especially our family members.
"The parade is a memory that I will cherish forever as it was a moment that we could show the same love to my grandparents as they show to those around them."
