MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — The late Sgt. Curtis Bernard Billue and Sgt. Christopher “Chris” Monica have once again been hailed heroes.

The latest tribute to the fallen officers who worked for the Georgia Department of Corrections came during a special event held Friday in the parking lot adjacent the Arnall Building near Central State Hospital in Milledgeville. 

Last week’s honor was bestowed to Billue and Monica — both Milledgeville residents — by the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club of Georgia, Chapter 7, and a group known as Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS).

Escorted by motorcycle riders, a wagon bearing the names of more than 790 law enforcement officers killed across Georgia since 1794 made its way through town. The wagon, known as the moving Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall, pays special tribute to fallen law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives doing their jobs.

Billue and Monica’s names are the latest to be inscribed on the side of the moving memorial as lawmen killed in the line of duty.

The two men were shot to death during an escape by two prison inmates aboard a state prison transport bus June 13, 2017, in Putnam County.

The two men accused in their murders are Donnie Russell Rowe, 43, and Ricky Dubose, 25. Rowe and Dubose, who are being held at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison near Jackson, are charged each with two counts of felony murder, one count each of escape, and one count each of hijacking a motor vehicle.

They each have pleaded not guilty to the charges in Putnam County Superior Court in Eatonton.

Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Stephen A. Bradley is seeking the death penalty against both of the state prison inmates. Their escape led to a nationwide manhunt and the reward for their capture reached $130,000.

The two men will be tried separately, but trial dates have yet to be announced.

“Even though this occasion is a somber one, it’s still an honor to see the families’ loved ones honored and respected in this kind of a way,” Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Greg Dozier told The Union-Recorder. “We want to make sure that these deaths don’t go by the wayside, and that we can change the (Georgia Department of Corrections) system for the better.”

Diane Billue Cooper, of Milledgeville, a retired schoolteacher and one of Sgt. Billue’s sisters, said the latest ceremony honoring her brother meant a lot to her and her family.

“We’re so grateful for the ones who came out to honor my brother,” Cooper said. “It really means a lot to all of us in our family.”

Another sister, Carol Billue, of McIntyre, leaned down by her brother’s name on the moving memorial wall and repeatedly blew kisses.

“I loved Curtis with all of my heart,” she said.

Sgt. Monica and his wife would have celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary next month.

“My heart isn’t just broken, it’s shattered,” said Denise Monica, crying as she talked. “Chris and I shared such a special love.”

“We are blessed beyond measure,” Monica said of the love that people throughout Milledgeville and Baldwin County and beyond have shown to her and her family. “I did over 320 thank-you cards and could not go any further. We have received so many blessings and continue to receive so many blessings.”

Monica said she and her family continue to be active at First United Methodist Church of Milledgeville.

“Without God, I couldn’t get through any of this,” Monica said. 

Dozier, who attended last Friday’s ceremony and addressed hundreds of people that attended the funerals of Sgt. Billue and Sgt. Monica, spoke to a much smaller crowd of mostly family members of the slain officers. 

Dozier said he wanted the families of both men to know that they still stand by them.

“The last few months have been difficult for us, and I know it has been difficult for you,” Dozier said, noting that his heart and the hearts of many in the GDOC circles hurt. “I’m not going to say hurt like yours, but in a similar manner.

Dozier said changes had been made since the tragic deaths. 

New training has been implemented, which hopefully will prevent any other tragedy like this one from happening again, Dozier said.

State Rep. Rick Williams and Dozier talked earlier.

“I’m here to support the family and friends of these two fine men, and the department of corrections,” Williams said. “I’ve sat in several hearings where Commissioner Dozier has spoken about his many dedicated people, and during this last session the state legislators saw fit to give him the money he requested to boost the salaries of the men and women who work for the Georgia Department of Corrections.”

The ceremony began with the presentation of the colors by the Honor Guard of the Georgia Department of Corrections. The American flag and Georgia flag were then placed near the moving memorial wall and near two large framed pictures honoring Billue and Monica.

The national anthem was later played by a trumpet player to get the ceremony underway.

Those attending the ceremony were welcomed by Baldwin State Prison Warden Trevonza Bobbitt.

Charlene McElheney, who serves as a local chaplain, gave the invocation.

In her prayer, McElheney said,“God bless these wonderful heroes and God bless the United States of America.”

Belinda Davis, regional director with the GDOC, meanwhile, recognized the families of both of state corrections officers, as well as local and state guests.

Phillips State Prison Warden Cedric B. Taylor, who formerly was serving as warden at Baldwin State Prison in Milledgeville when the escape and murders happened, then recalled some of his fond memories about each of the men.

Taylor said he had several conversations with both men while he served as warden of the local prison.

“One of the things I’d like to talk about when we think of people giving their all is the standards by which they lived by,” Taylor said.

Both men worked hard and will always be remembered for their dedication to their jobs,

Taylor said both men enjoyed their jobs.

“They taught others how to do their jobs,” Taylor said. “They wanted to be successful at what they were doing.”

Taylor said regardless of how anyone wishes to look at the tragic incident that claimed the lives of Billue and Monica that there are now new standards in place within the Georgia Department of Corrections.

“Our policies and processes have now changed for the better,” Taylor said.

After the warden addressed the crowd, members of the Hancock State Prison Ensemble performed, before Ed Christian, president of the Blue Knights of Georgia, spoke.

“We are honored that we are going to be adding the names of Sgt. Curtis Billue and Sgt. Christopher Monica today,” Christian said. 

He said one of the reasons they place the names of the slain officers on the moving memorial wall is to keep the memory of the fallen officers alive.

The moving memorial goes all over Georgia and next month will travel to the National Peace Officers Monument in Washington, D.C. where the memories of Sgt. Billue and Sgt. Monica will be shared by a nation of people, along with all of the other law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty throughout the nation over the last 200 years.

Family of both men were asked to go up to the moving memorial wall and remove the tape bearing the names of their loved ones.