Huntsman mentioned how the name of one of his own relatives is on the memorial wall. William N. Huntsman had been on the Salt Lake City police force only nine months when he was killed in 1924 by an armed robber.

Former police officer Robert Kirby wanted to put a face on the fallen and called on representatives of each Utah law enforcement agency to gather on a hill behind the memorial to give people a visual representation of what losing 126 officers looks like. Kirby told the crowd that if they can go to sleep at night and feel safe or send their children outside to play, confident they'll return, then it's because of those who help keep the peace.

"This is the cost," Kirby said, looking at the 126 men and women on the hill over his shoulder. "This is the price we have to pay for that."

Saturday's ceremony was punctuated by the release of about 60 white rock doves, a rendition of "Taps," the firing of seven rifles three times in lieu of a 21-gun salute — and the children who helped unveil for the first time three sculptures by artist Lena Toritch.

"This project has touched me like no other," Toritch said. "It has changed me."

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com