A Washington County Sheriff’s Office vehicle pulling out of Bridgeport Equipment & Tool in Marietta for the Operation Blue Sky procession Saturday night to honor local police officers. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office led the annual Operation Blue Sky procession Saturday night to kick off Officer Memorial Week or, as referenced by Chief Deputy Mark Warden, “Police Week.”

The procession started at Bridgeport Equipment & Tool in Marietta and went through Marietta to the west side of town. They then took St. Rt. 7 to Belpre. After the procession went through Belpre, they crossed the Belpre Bridge and went through Parkersburg to Vienna. The procession then went through Vienna to Boaz and Boaz to Williamstown where they dispersed.

Police departments from all over Washington and Wood County came together to participate in the procession and Warden estimated there to be 50 to 100 vehicles that participated.

Both Washington and Wood County Sheriff’s Offices participated in the procession as well as Pleasants County Sheriff’s Office, Marietta, Vienna, Belpre, Lowell, Beverly, Marietta College, Parkersburg, Matamoras. St. Marys and Williamstown Police Department all had vehicles in the procession. The Ohio State Highway Patrol also had vehicles in the procession on Saturday.