This picture of a man kneeling down on the ground with a hand outstretched in prayer is catching the attention of people all over the world.
Even though it was pouring rain and the grass was sopping wet, Joseph Brewer fell to his knees as soon as he saw a procession of squad cars drive by. It will soon become clear why this is a pivotal, heart-wrenching moment!
The photo was captured by Tim Evans of the Warrior Police Department. Neither Evans nor Joseph Brewer knew each other, but they were both good friends with Officer Nick O’Rear, who was fatally shot in the line of duty.
This was his funeral procession, and the whole community had come out to pay their respects and mourn the fallen officer as he was being driven to his final resting place.
Officer O’Rear, who had recently joined the Kimberly Police Department in Kimberly, Alabama, was only 33 years old when he was slain. He had his whole life ahead of him.
It’s also quite obvious that this loving father, whose girlfriend was pregnant with their child at the time of his passing, also had a network of friends who deeply cared for him.
In a now-deleted posted on his Facebook page, Tim Evans described the touching scene he witnessed that day.
“During the procession for Officer Nick O’Rear, so many people lined the streets in the pouring rain to pay tribute to this hero. But this one man really caught my attention. I don’t know who this man is, but he knelt in the wet grass and prayed, his hand outstretched as each patrol car passed by. It was a very touching tribute.”
The picture below shows Officer O’Rear and his K-9, Officer Stella, on their very first ever shift with the Kimberly Police Department.
Evans continued by saying that O’Rear was:
“…a good cop but he was even a better man. He died doing what he loved to do which is serving others. He will be missed by all who knew him.”
Rick Karle, co-host of the WVTM 13 morning show, posted his own tribute to the man who was famously caught kneeling down in prayer and grace:
“This past Monday, Joseph Brewer felt the need to not only honor fallen Officer O’Rear, but he felt the need to pray for him as well.”
Officer O’Rear and Joseph had become friends years earlier thanks to Joseph’s wife, Amber, who introduced the pair.
“So in the midst of pelting rain and wind, Joseph made his way from Ragland (his current home) to a Trussville intersection near the cemetery.”
Naturally Joseph was overcome with grief when he saw the hearse passed. It was a somber reminder that his friend would no longer be there by his side.
Rick Karle continued:
“As he knelt in the soggy grass and removed his hat, Joseph Brewer prayed, and then prayed some more. He bowed his head and prayed for what seemed like an eternity as rain pelted his face and the long, sad procession moved along. With mud on his knees and wind whipping through his bones, he prayed for every officer as they sadly drove by.”
Joseph Brewer is a simple guy who doesn’t need much. His faith in the Lord is enough to sustain him.
“Joseph’s best friend? The Holy Bible, which he has read front to back five times. His faith is real, and down through the years, his faith has been needed.”
This tribute to Officer Nick O’Rear was posted by a man named Peter Doc Wright on the Kimberly Police Department’s Facebook by page:
“He did his duty & paid the supreme price, I pray you’ll remember his sacrifice, His life was short, He did his best God grant Him peace, in His eternal rest.”
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