United States Honor Flag Arrives For Slain Officer’s Memorial Services

It’s been an emotional week for loved ones and friends of Karl McDonough.

The four-year veteran of the El Paso Police Department was killed in the line of duty Wednesday.

He will be laid to rest Tuesday.

Thursday afternoon, the United States Honor Flag arrived at the El Paso International Airport. The flag travels the country to honor people who have given their lives in the line of duty.

Police officials told ABC-7 it’s a fitting symbol of pride and sacrifice.

“It’s an honor and it’s extremely important,” said El Paso police Detective Mike Baranyay.

The U.S. Honor Flag arrived just before 2 p.m. on American Airlines flight 1095.

The flag was stored in a cased and was delivered by the pilot to the honor guard on the tarmac.

McDonough’s mother and father held hands as they quietly walked through the airport.

“Standing out there – I don’t know if there was a dry eye or there wasn’t a person choking back tears,” Baranyay said.

The McDonoughs join the families of the more than 1,000 police officers, firefighters and soldiers the flag has reportedly honored since Sept. 11, 2001.

The Honor Network is the group that provides the flag for memorial and funeral services around the world.

According to the Honor Network’s website, it’s “a flag that has witnessed the worst of what men can do. But now honors the sacrifices that are made to prevent it from happening again.”

A symbol of sacrifice and service to our nation that once flew above the rubble at ground zero.

The Honor Network states the flag now memorializes those who have sacrificed themselves for our safety, like McDonough.

El Paso police investigators said he and his partner were following up on a report of a drunk driver when he was killed.

According to court documents, Alejandro Fierro, 19, admitted he had been drinking and ran a red light as Saul Kleinfeld Drive and Zaragoza Road – slamming into the police unit McDonough was in.

The patrolman leaves behind a wife and three children, a family who might find comfort in the presence of the Honor Flag – a symbol of service.

“It just gives you a sense of pride. That you probably don’t realize until unfortunately tragedy strikes,” said Baranyay.

ABC-7 spoke with Adrian Pina with the El Paso Municipal Police Officers Association.

He said the board will meet next week to talk about what kind of financial assistance the association will be able to give the McDonough family.

Pina explained McDonough’s wife will receive $250,000 from her husband’s life insurance policy.

She will also receive state pension benefits as well as state education benefits for her and the children, Pina said.

Pina said McDonough bought his gun, so it now belongs to his wife. She will also receive his badge.

The decision of whether to bury him in his uniform will be made by his family.