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Remembering July 7: Voices From Dallas' Tribute To Its Fallen Officers

Ana Perez
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KERA News
Sgt. Leticia Corral has been with the Dallas Police Department 33 years. "It's been sad. I'll just leave it at that," she says about what this past year has been like for her.

Outside Dallas City Hall Friday evening, people gathered to listen to music, hear speakers, and later that night, hold up blue lights in the darkness as part of the city's central tribute to the July 7 anniversary.

Throughout the week, various community events were held to commemorate the lives of five police officers killed by a gunman last summer as a peaceful protest concluded in downtown Dallas.

Here’s what some of those who attended Tribute 7/7 had to say about the ambush, the officers and the anniversary.

Dallas Police Sgt. Leticia Corral

"It was an attack on law enforcement. We just never want to forget."

Credit Ana Perez / KERA News
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KERA News
Sergeant Leticia Corral has been with the Dallas Police Department 33 years.

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Dallas Police Sgt. Leticia Corral

Jesse Rodriguez

"He'd give the shirt off his back and help anybody out." 

Credit Ana Perez / KERA News
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KERA News
Jesse Rodriguez and Patrick Zamarripa were best friends for 28 years. Zamarripa was one of the Dallas police officers killed on July 7.

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Jesse Rodriguez talks about his best friend, Patrick Zamarripa.

Don Harris 

"Our band played for each one of those funerals."

Credit Ana Perez / KERA News
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KERA News
Don Harris has played with Dallas Metro Police Pipes and Drums for 10 years.

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Audio of Don Harris

Rev. Michael Waters

"There is no greater honor that we can bestow upon all of these who have crossed over to the other side than to resolve the tensions and divisions that continue to plague us throughout our society."

Credit Stella M. Chávez / KERA News
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KERA News
Rev. Michael Waters is pastor of Joy Tabernacle African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dallas.

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Rev. Michael Waters speaks during Tribute 7/7.

  Ana Perez is a KERA intern.

Stella M. Chávez is KERA’s immigration/demographics reporter/blogger. Her journalism roots run deep: She spent a decade and a half in newspapers – including seven years at The Dallas Morning News, where she covered education and won the Livingston Award for National Reporting, which is given annually to the best journalists across the country under age 35.