ELGIN — Almost 43 years have passed since these Union County law enforcement officers fell in the line of duty but today their presence burns brighter than ever.

Union Boy Scout Kelton Shoemaker is making sure of it.

Shoemaker has created a Fallen Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial display at Witty Park in downtown Elgin honoring Union County Sheriff’s Office deputies Michael Lynn Cheney and Raymond Williams. Cheney and Willams were killed on Nov. 5, 1980, in their patrol pickup on Highway 82 near Elgin when a drunk driver struck their vehicle head-on.

The Boy Scout was inspired to take on the project because of his respect for law enforcement officers.

“I believe that law enforcement officers do not get enough credit,” he said.

Cheney, who had served in Union County for only 14 days after moving from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, was 38 years old and survived by two daughters. Williams, who was 33 years old and had served with the Union County Sheriff’s Office for five years, was married and had a son and a daughter, according to Union County Sheriff Cody Bowen.

Cheney and Williams were returning from a search and rescue assignment when the accident, which also killed the drunk driver, occurred, according to Shoemaker.

The heart of Shoemaker’s display is a panel telling the story of Cheney and Williams. It is covered by a roof installed by Shoemaker with help from volunteers on Saturday, June 15.

Shoemaker created the Fallen Badge display for his Eagle project. He is a member of Boy Scout Troop 514 of the First Presbyterian Church in La Grande. Shoemaker started his Eagle project while a member of Troop 511, a Union County troop that has since disbanded.

The Boy Scout, who will be a senior at Union High School this fall, is the son of Lance and Stephanie Shoemaker, of Union. Shoemaker, on his memorial panel, credits the city of Elgin, Elgin Mayor S. James Johnson, Bowen, the Elgin Lions Club, Steve Koza, Joe Platz, Ed Baird, Reid Fregulia and All American Chiropractic with helping him create the display.

Shoemaker started working on the memorial display four years ago. He said that one of the challenges he faced was completing paperwork that needed to be finished before physical work on the project could start.

“It feels good to have it done,” he said.