Vermilion Parish gives Deputy Bares Jr. one final salute

Allen Bares Jr. will be forever remembered as a man who served.
Bares, a veteran deputy with the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office, gave his life in the line of duty.
Sgt. Dwayne Broussard of the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office said, “Allen was the guy that would help anyone even if he had to go out of his way to do it.
Hundreds gathered Friday afternoon to say goodbye during a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville.
“I wish to express my deepest sympathy to all of Allen’s family,” Fr. William Blanda said during the service. “We are thankful to all of those who give themselves to public service for the safety of our community.
“Please know that you will be in our thoughts and prayers.”
Law enforcement came to the church in droves to say goodbye to Bares, a man who lost his life doing what he has done for so many years, serve and protect the public.
Members of law enforcement agencies from all around the state were among the standing room only crowd inside the church. Many stood outside.
State Police Trooper Stephen Hammons said police representing departments from Texas, Mississppi and New York were in Abbeville on Friday.
Sirens led the way from the funeral home to the church. The sounds of a bag pipe preceded Bares being carried into the church by his brothers of the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Theresa Theall commented on her dealings with Bares. She said he represented well all of those at the sheriff’s office and law enforcement. Theall said one thing stood out above all in how Bares carried himself.
“I think that what sets this man apart from so many others is that he was first and foremost a man of God,” Theall commented through Facebook. “He put God first and family and treated people of all walks with dignity and respect without judgement. That is what my personal encounter with him in his law enforcement position was like. I think it is unfortunate that there are not more like him then perhaps we would not be experiencing so much hatred and violence in our streets.
“My deepest sympathy to the family. My heart breaks for all of you. He was a very special man.”
Bares worked for the Vermilion Parish Sheriff Office for 12 years. Hundreds of law enforcement agents attended the funeral and escorted the family and Bares to and from the church and then the cemetery.
La. 14, from Abbeville to Erath, was lined with citizens who stood in the rain to pay their respect to Bares and his family. Some held American flags and signs to thank Bares for his service. Many put their hand over their heart when he drove by.
The precession passed under an American flag hoisted by ladders of fire trucks from Abbeville and New Iberia.
Mother Nature did her part to cooperate. By the time everyone arrived in Erath at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Cemetery, the rain had stopped.
There was a gun salute and Sheriff Deputy Benji Legé played taps on the trumpet.
Sheriff Mike Couvillon spoke to the family at the cemetery and said no Vermilion Parish deputy will ever use Allen’s badge number 32 as long as he is in office.
Col. Kirk Frith of the Sheriff’s Office posted these words on his Facebook page.

6 OF THE “THIN BLUE LINE” CARRY THEIR FALLEN COMRADE

“We, your brothers (THE THIN BLUE LINE) have done it. We have laid you to final rest my friend in a way that Vermilion Parish will NOT soon forget. We gave you a final salute that pulled out all the stops as we called your shift to a formal end today, retiring your badge number(VP 32). WE (the thin blue line) needed to do this for two reasons.
1. YOU deserved nothing less for putting your life in harms way on Monday, as you did what we (the thin blue line) do … protect and serve 24/7. You gave your last breath to the profession that you loved so much and you deserved this magnificent salute and farewell.
2. WE, (that thin blue line) desperately needed this. We have suffered with pain and grief over your senseless departure and this farewell brought PRIDE back to us (the thin blue line) and it is this PRIDE that has enabled us to find our strength again… the strength we desperately need that will allow us to begin to heal as we get back to protecting and serving humanity.
Farewell my good friend and fellow comrade …. the VPSO is now 10-8 (back in service).”