WINSTON-SALEM, NC-- The Winston-Salem Dash honored Trooper Samuel Bullard who died in the line of duty last month.
The 24-year-old was engaged to be married when his life was cut terribly short.
He died in a fiery car wreck chasing a suspect in Yadkin County.
It was an emotional night for those who knew Trooper Bullard, especially for his younger sister Olivia who threw out Friday night's first pitch in his honor.
Tears welled up in her eyes as the ball left her hands.
Before the pitch, the announcer recognized the sacrifice Trooper Bullard made for the community. He was called a hero as pictures of him flashed on the jumbotron.
Trooper Bullard spent three years working with Troop E, District 5 in Surry County. Many of his coworkers were there sporting their "hold the line" shirt as they remembered their colleague and friend.
" It means the world to us. Samuel is our brother. He was the model trooper. He was their family," Sgt. Joshua Church said.
Church worked with Bullard.
Other law enforcement were there too. Olivia says she's comforted by the support she's gotten from people all over the country but says it's still hard going through life without her older brother.
"It's a little difficult to not see him or hear him coming up the steps in the middle the night. I just do all I can to make everyone happy and make them smile and bring back the good memories of him," she said.
She says it's was fitting she threw the first pitch.
Olivia played softball in high school and college and says her brother would try to make it to every game he could when work allowed.
Trooper Bullard's fiancée Michelle Leigh Mathis said the honoring was very special and she's thankful the community is standing behind her and her family.