The National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Fund would like to extend our congratulations to the winner of this year’s Harley Davidson raffle, Mr. Edwin H.!
Edwin has been a law enforcement professional for more than 45 years in Nassau County, New York.
He spent 34 years as a Nassau County Police Officer, and for the past 11 years has been employed by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, assigned to the DEA Task Force.
Edwin has bought four Harley Raffle Tickets every year for the eight years that we have done the raffle.
Edwin comes to Washington, D.C. for National Police Week every year to honor seven of his colleagues that are on our Memorial Wall. We greatly appreciate his support and send him our well wishes for his new ride!
In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15th falls, as National Police Week determining the dates for National Police Week 2013 — Sunday, May 12th through Saturday, May 18th.
At the conclusion of the 32nd Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service at the U.S. Capitol, leaders of the Fraternal Order of Police, the FOP Auxiliary, Concerns of Police Survivors and the Memorial Fund brought the wreath from the Capitol to the Memorial to remain under the watch of honor guards from all over the country for the rest of the evening.
Take a look at our photos of the National Peace Officers' Memorial Wreathlaying at the Memorial:
At midnight, a lone piper will walk through the Memorial, and the flags will be returned to full staff, signaling the end of Peace Officers Memorial Day.
When it comes to honoring the memory of our nation’s fallen law enforcement heroes, the Gannett Co. gets it.
For the fifth year in a row, the company’s flagship newspaper, USA Today, has donated a quarter-page ad paying tribute to officers killed in the line of duty.
The ad, which appeared on page 5B of the May 14th edition, lists the names of all 120 officers who died in law enforcement service during 2012. And it reminds the family members, loved ones and colleagues of the fallen that a grateful nation will always remember these brave men and women.
Thank you, Gannett and USA Today, for honoring our heroes during National Police Week.
The Emerald Society, an organization of American police officers or fire fighters of Irish heritage, held the 19th Annual Emerald Society & Pipeband March and Service today. The service remembered all law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, in particular officers of Gaelic descent, and featured numerous musical tributes.
Bagpipes trace their roots to the Middle East several centuries before the birth of Christ. But it was in Ireland and Scotland that the instrument became popular, used to signal a death and escort the fallen to the final resting place. Their strong association with law enforcement in the United States developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as Irish-Americans stepped forward and began to fill the growing ranks of our law enforcement agencies. One of the enduring traditions they brought with them was bagpipe music.
The Memorial was proud to host this ceremony honoring the service and sacrifice of our fallen officers.
For more information about National Police Week 2013, including a complete schedule of events, visit www.LawMemorial.org/PoliceWeek.
The 17th Annual Law Enforcement Memorial Run made its way to the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial this afternoon. Each year runners make the journey from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Washington DC to honor fallen officers from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.
The run began 17 years ago with just two participants. Over time, the Law Enforcement Memorial Run has evolved into a group of over eighty participants including officers, supporters and survivors. In addition to the main group, hundred of extra runners join in during various legs of the trip. The run made several stops along the way to honor those law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Tonight, the nation paused to formally dedicate the names of 321 fallen law enforcement heroes, added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in 2012. Of the 321 names, 120 were officers killed in the line of duty during 2012 and 201 were names of officers previously undiscovered.
Following the presentation of the colors by the United States Park Police, Sergeant Katina Murphy of the Arizona Department of Corrections performed the national anthem and Chaplain Reginald H. Wilborn led the invocation. Craig Floyd, Chairman and CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund welcomed thousands oflaw enforcement officers, survivors and supporters in attendance before introducing Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano who delivered special remarks. U.S. Attorney General, Eric H. Holder, Jr.,delivered the keynote address.
Sergeant Michael Devine, New York City (NY) Police Department; Officer Steve Butterbrodt, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey PBA; Sergeant Ron Fabiani, Stone Park (IL) Police Department; and Sergeant Austin Weinstock, Triton (IL) Police Department, all performed moving musical tributes during the ceremony.
The national monument now contains the names of 19,981 fallen law enforcement officers—from all 50 states; the District of Columbia; U.S. territories; federal law enforcement, corrections, railroad and military police agencies—who have died in the performance of duty throughout U.S. history, dating back to the first known officer death in 1791.
Special thanks to Officer.com for providing a free webcast of tonight’s services.
Shortly after 2 pm today, nearly 1,700 members of the Police Unity Tour completed their long journey to Washington, DC. Participants traveled hundreds of miles the past three days—from six spokes in East Hanover (NJ), Franklin Township (NJ), Millville (NJ), Portsmouth (VA), Richmond (VA), and Philadelphia (PA) to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
Friends, family and supporters gathered at the Memorial, waving signs and cheering on the participants as they finished the long ride. The Police Unity Tour’s motto is “We Ride for Those Who Died” and is one that each rider seriously embraces. Participants not only trained hard for the 300 mile average ride but also raised money to provide awareness and financial support for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
After all riders had entered the Memorial, a brief ceremony was held, and Florham Park (NJ) Chief Patrick Montuore, founder of the Police Unity Tour, presented a check for $1.72 million to Craig W. Floyd, Chairman & CEO of the NLEOMF—the highest amount raised in the history of the Police Unity Tour.
We thank all the members of the Police Unity Tour, who worked tirelessly to ensure the service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement heroes are forever remembered. Their generosity, commitment and unity are vital to honoring all 19,981 officers killed in the line of duty.
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