As America prepares to commemorate National Police Week, we must pause to honor all who serve our communities, especially those who have offered the ultimate sacrifice.
According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), in 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day.
President Kennedy also designated the calendar week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week.
During the same year, a joint resolution of Congress proclaimed National Police Week as the time to pay special recognition to those who died protecting others.
The Memorial Wall: Ever-Changing
As of May 2, 2017, the fatalities of ethical protectors reflect a sobering 32 percent increase over the same time frame last year.
The NLEOMF tracks law enforcement fatalities nationwide.
New York, California, Georgia, and Louisiana lead the nation with these fatalities.
Whenever an officer is killed in the line of duty, the NLEOMF informs the nation of their sacrifice through their Fallen Alerts Program.
This alert also initiates a process for the fallen officer’s name to be immortalized into the National Memorial.
The Memorial in Washington DC, honors federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect and serve America.
Carved into the Memorial stones are the names of more than 20,000 officers killed in the line of duty.
These names date back to the first known death in 1791.
But unlike other iconic memorials in our nation’s capital, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall (NLEOMW) is ever-changing.
As new officers offer the ultimate sacrifice, their names are etched into the Memorial each spring, in conjunction with National Police Week.
Recently Fallen Ethical Protectors
As one pauses to reflect on the sacrifices of our ethical protectors, we must remember they are members of America’s communities and families.
