A goodbye fitting for a hero. Today family, fellow police officers and the community came together to honor Officer Charleston Hartfield. He lost his life in the 1 October mass shooting that claimed 57 other lives.
Hartfield received a hero's salute with his motorcade passing down Las Vegas Boulevard from Palm Mortuary to Central Christian Church in Henderson. A life well lived was remembered by his brother who said, "I am proud of you, I love you, I looked up to you even though I'm older I looked up to you.He did so much more than I could ever do in a lifetime, that is why I looked up to him."
Many kids knew him as Coach Chuck and his wife called him Chuckieheart. Hartfield served 16 years in the Army and Nevada National Guard. He served the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for 11 years.
Words that Hartfield wrote himself over a year ago in a plan for his memorial service were read today. "I would like everyone to enjoy themselves, and remember me for who I was, the truth only and none of that stuff but how great I was," read by the church pastor.
Hartfield's cousin, a marine gave him a touching goodbye, "Just because Charleston I get the final word on this one, I leave you with the Marine Corps salute. Never above you, never below you always beside you Fair winds and following seas."
Charleston Hartfield was 34 years old. He leaves behind his wife Veronica and children Isaiah and Savannah. At his request, he was buried at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
UPDATE ON OCT. 20:
A police motorcade will escort the fallen officer and his family from Palm Mortuary on North Main Street to the Central Christian Church located at 1001 New Beginnings Drive in Henderson. The motorcade will pass by Mandalay Bay on Las Vegas Boulevard in route to the church.
VIEW: Photos of the motorcade and Honor Guard in the media player at the top of this page.
Following the arrival of the motorcade at Central Church, the funeral service is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and conclude at approximately 1 p.m.
There will be a second motorcade from Central Church to the graveside service at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery located at 1900 Veterans Memorial Drive in Boulder City.
The graveside service is anticipated to last approximately one hour and will involve the traditional rendering of honors including the presentation of a flag to the family, the playing of Taps and bagpipes, and a flyover by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Air Support Section.
UPDATE OCT. 17: Las Vegas police officer Charleston Hartfield will be laid to rest on Oct. 20. Services will begin at 11 a.m. at Central Church, followed by a motorcade from the church to Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City. Traffic delays are expected along the motorcade's route.
