COEUR d'ALENE - Hundreds of people gathered at the McEuen Park Veterans Memorial Plaza Wednesday night to honor the life of Sgt. Greg Moore.

The event was inspired by a Facebook comment made by Terri Boyd-Davis, who wrote that residents should take to the streets to peacefully show their support for the community and law enforcement personnel. Boyd-Davis said the comment garnered so much interest on the Web she felt she had to make it a reality and decided to encourage people to gather at McEuen Park.

"It's something that came from my heart," Boyd-Davis said. "All the people who are here feel the same way as I do - we want our law enforcement and Sgt. Moore's family to know how much we care about them."

For Boyd-Davis' husband, Brian, the death of Moore hit close to home. Brian served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 35 years, and told The Press they lost an average of two officers a year in the line of duty.

"But this is such a quiet and peaceful community," Brian said. "To have this happen here, with Sgt. Moore losing his life while he was just doing his job, is heartbreaking."

When Mike and Barbara Downey heard about the event, the Coeur d'Alene couple said they felt they had to be there. Mike said he and his wife have family members who are police officers in other areas, and friends in the area who are in law enforcement.

"It's affected everyone and we had to show our support," Barbara added. "For it being an impromptu thing, it's really amazing to see this many people here."

In the middle of the plaza, a group of American Legion Riders from Post Falls Post No. 143 held American flags and stood solemnly at attention. They were at the head of the group when the majority of people in attendance decided to march around McEuen Park.

"We're just out here to support the officer and his family. It's something we do all the time unfortunately," said Rich Toombs, a Navy veteran from Spokane who joined the Legion Riders holding flags. "What happened is a tragedy and the real tragedy is going to be that family growing up without their spouse and father."

After the march around the park, Coeur d'Alene resident Scott Maclay said he felt a calling from the Holy Spirit to ask everyone gathered in the plaza to form a large circle and join hands. Maclay then prayed, asking for God to protect law enforcement personnel and the community.

"I just came here tonight to be with other hurting people who are looking for healing like I am," Maclay told The Press after the prayer. "I think the whole community feels fragile right now. But as much as it hurts today, I think it will end up making Coeur d'Alene stronger."