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'I wanted to honor the police' | 9-year-old bagpiper helps lead procession to honor fallen officer

A young Charlotte boy was among those leading the procession for Officer Joshua Eyer.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Liam Whited is a little shy, but it's hard to tell when it's time for his lungs to do the talking — where he puffs out his cheeks to create something special.

"My papa gave me a chanter and he gave me an opportunity to play and I liked it," Liam said about playing the bagpipes.

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Of course, that was all it took. Liam's "like" turned to love.

Liam has since performed at concerts, parades, and more recently fallen CMPD officer Joshua Eyer’s procession.

The service was filled with many of Charlotte’s law enforcement officers, along with a nine-year-old among those leading the march.

RELATED: DONATE NOW: How to help families of officers killed during Monday's standoff

Liam said he was a little nervous so he did the only thing he could do — his best.

Credit: WCNC

"It was my first time doing it and I was really happy to participate in it because I wanted to honor the police because they did a lot of work," Liam said. "I was trying to play as good as I could, I wanted them to feel good."

Blow by blow and squeeze by squeeze, Liam said he finished strong until the end.

"I accomplished something that was really hard for me to do," Liam told WCNC Charlotte.

It was a challenge he hoped served its purpose, bringing peace and healing through the air in a bag.

The CMPD officers who were injured in last Monday's deadly ambush have all been released from the hospital. 

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Contact Tradesha Woodard at twoodard1@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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