Troopers and other officers from from around the country paid their final respects to the Florida Highway Patrol’s Chelsea Richard today.

She died Saturday along with two others while investigating a crash.

Today we learned much more about the trooper and mother killed along side I-75.

One trooper who worked with Chelsea Richard said one of the most important rules of being a trooper is never to cry.

He immediately broke down in tears, as did nearly every other person in the crowd as they remembered the woman who died on what we learned today was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life.

They came from across the country, standing and saluting as the flag draped casket of Trooper Chelsea Richard was escorted into the church where as many 3,000 people came to pay their final respects.

Sgt. Tracy Pace, a close friend, spoke about Trooper Richard, "This is a very sad day for our agency and for Chelsea’s family."

At the center of that family, her four year old son Clayton, who shortly before her death gave her a special Highway Patrol badge for her to wear.

Col. David Brierton described the badge the child gave to his mother, "On the back Jamie and Clayton inscribed, I love you Mommy Clayton."

Bruce Richard, Chelsea Richard's father, spoke of how much that maternal bond meant to Chelsea. "The love for her family was nothing compared to the love for her son, Clayton was her life, her little miracle, her little man she would do anything for him," said Bruce Richard

"Clayton my prayers are with you, I have three grandsons just a little bit younger than you, and can’t imagine losing your mom," added Governor Rick Scott.

The other man in Chelsea Richard's life was her boyfriend who asked her parents for their blessing to propose the day before she was hit and killed investigating a crash on I-75. He planned to propose that night.

Richard served with the Florida Highway Patrol for nine years.

Fellow troopers say she will forever be remembered for her jovial manner behind the scenes, but professionalism on the job helping protect Florida drivers.

"You are all blessed to have known and loved a hero,” said State Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Trooper Chelsea Richard would have celebrated her 31st birthday this Saturday.

She will be honored again at Marion County's fallen officer ceremony a week from today.