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Heroes remembered

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Laura Judge, with the Tour de Force bicycle group, gives Jayne Martin, of Rockwell City a hug Saturday morning at the start of the Hometown Heroes Memorial Ride as Randy Martin, at right, waits for his hug. The Martins are the parents of slain Urbandale Police officer Justin Martin.

ROCKWELL CITY — The community of Rockwell City has paid a high price in heroes lost. One firefighter and two police officers have died or been killed in the line of duty since 2013.

On Saturday, hundreds of motorcycle riders, and a few bicycle riders, showed up to honor and remember those heroes during the Hometown Heroes Memorial Ride.

A banner above one of the doors at the Rockwell City Fire Station reminded everyone who they were riding for.

• Rockwell City Police Officer Jamie Buenting, killed in the line of duty in September 2013.

• Rockwell City firefighter Nick Hildreth, killed in an accident in June 2014.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Hayden Hildreth, 5, of Rockwell City, holds a red rose in honor of her dad, Rockwell City firefighter Nick Hildreth during opening ceremonies for the Hometown Heroes Memorial Ride Saturday morning. The run is held to honor Hildreth, along with Rockwell City Police officer Jamie Buenting and Urbandale Police officer Justin Martin, a Rockwell City native.

• Urbandale Police officer Justin Martin, who grew up in Rockwell City, killed in the line of duty in November 2016.

Martin’s parents, Randy and Jayne Martin, of Rockwell City, were on hand.

“Jamie used to take Justin out to the shooting range,” Randy Martin said. “He kind of got him into the business.”

The Martins are often reminded of their son when they walk in a wooded area called the Walking Park near their home.

“Jayne walks in there with the dogs,” he said. “We believe that every time we see a cardinal, that to us is a sign Justin is fine. He’s saying I’m OK, I’m where I want to be.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Some of the riders in the annual Hometown Heroes Memorial Ride leave Rockwell City Saturday morning as they head out for the route which would bring them back to Rockwell City later in the day.

Jayne Martin recalls her son’s many treks into the area.

“He loved to spend time in the Walking Park,” she said. “I’d get him a new pair of shoes and tell him to stay out of the water with them. He’d take them off and carry them.”

Both said that support from the community, and events like the Hometown Heroes Memorial Ride, have been overwhelming.

“It’s what Iowans are about,” Randy Martin said.

The ride was originally organized by firefighter Nick Hildreth to honor Jamie Buenting. Hildreth was killed a few days before the first event in 2014.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
One of the participants in the Hometown Heroes Memorial Ride takes a phone selfies as they head out along the route Saturday morning.

Kylie Hildreth said the fire service was something her husband loved.

“Nick loved the fire department,” she said. “I have lots of memories of him helping with things.”

Jeff Frank, of Rockwell City, was Nick Hildreth’s father-in-law.

“He was a fun, loving guy that loved helping people,” he said. “He put others before himself.”

That included helping out Frank.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Bill Bush, of Laurens, at left, talks shop with his friend Rob Schramm, also of Laurens, as they wait for the Hometown Heroes Memorial Ride to get underway in front of the Rockwell City Fire Station Saturday morning.

“He did a lot of odd jobs for my wife,” he said. “I’m not much of a carpenter.”

Calhoun County Sheriff’s Deputy Shane Voith, who’s also the Rockwell City Fire Department chief, knew all three men.

“He was always fun to work with and be around,” he said of Buenting. “We spent lots of time together over the years. There’s not a day that goes by where we don’t miss him.”

Voith held Hildreth in high regard.

“He was a great guy,” he said. “He would do anything for anybody.”

His own sons grew up around Martin.

“My boys were Boy Scouts when he was,” Voith said. “They really looked up to him.”

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