It was a memorial 77 years in the making.

The Knoxville Police Department remembered fallen officer M.A. “Bert” Conrey during a ceremony on Thursday.
Members of Conrey’s family, including his only surviving child, Duane Conrey Sr., were in attendance as a memorial in his honor was unveiled at the base of the flagpole outside the police department. Duane Conrey told KNIA/KRLS News he had all but given up on his father being honored, but says if you wait long enough you may get what you want.
Officer Conrey was a 23 year veteran of the Knoxville PD who died on April 2nd, 1938, at the age of 56, as a result of injuries sustained during an assault by a couple on St. Patrick’s Day two weeks earlier.
Knoxville citizen Steve Donnelly got the ball rolling this memorial. The story of Officer Conrey was eventually given to Knoxville Police Chief Dan Losada, who began the process of getting him recognized.
Conrey is also being recognized by the state of Iowa and the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C.