On August 25th of last year, Pyramid Lake Police Officer Anthony Francone was hit and killed by a suspect's car.
This morning at mile marker 12 of State Route 446, a new memorial was placed for him.
Students in the welding class at Pyramid Lake High School made a bright blue cross, with Francone's name and End of Watch Day.
"We were honored to do the cross for the family and the community," said Junie Estrada, industrial arts teacher at the high school.
After Francone's passing, Estrada wanted to see what they could do to pay their respects.
He then met with one of Francone's friends and coworkers, Melissa Reed, to see if it was okay if he and class did something.
"When she said yes we went to the kids. They were excited to make the cross and then we started planning and designing the cross," Estrada said.
The cross took about three months to complete.
Estrada wanted to make sure the students got it just right.
"We wanted to make sure that it was quality work," he said. "So, a few times I was like nope that's not right. We need to make sure that we do it correctly because it's going to be presented in the community. So, it took us a couple of times to learn the layout process," he said.
The teacher says that he is beyond proud of the students' work.
"More than anything the pride that they took into completing the project," Estrada said. "You know, I've been doing this now for 37 years as a schoolteacher and this year, working with these students, has been a huge pleasure for me."
For the Francone family, fellow officers, and the community, his death has greatly impacted them.
Many were wiping away tears at the unveiling Wednesday morning.
"Having something like this is a big part of a healing process and to just never be forgotten and continue to heal," said Steven Wadsworth, Tribal Chairman, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.
Francone's sister Ashlee wants every person to see this cross and remember the kind of man her brother was.
"As a sister I would want everyone to know what a wonderful family man he was and a wonderful father he was to his kids and what a wonderful brother he was to me," she said holding back tears. "He was my best friend. He was the other half to me. As an officer, I would want him to be remembered as someone who was fair."
The moment she saw the cross today was one she will never forget.
"It took my breath away," Ashlee Francone said. "The kids did such a great job with it and to see his name up there and you know you're never gone if they speak your name and they made sure my brother's name will be spoken for a long time."
Ashlee says she and the family are still taking the loss day by day.
They constantly keep in touch with one another, and the community's support has helped go through this process.
"Literally from the night it happened until this moment right now today," she said. "The outpouring of love, community and support, is amazing. Just amazing."
