In 1962, President John F. Kennedy
signed a proclamation which designated May 15th as Peace Officers
Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement
officers from around the world converge on Washington, DC to participate in a
number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate
sacrifice.
The Memorial Service began in 1982 as a
gathering in Senate Park of approximately 120 survivors and supporters of law
enforcement. Decades later, the event,
more commonly known as National Police
Week, has grown to a series of events which attracts thousands of survivors
and law enforcement officers to our Nation’s Capital each year.
The National Peace Officers’ Memorial
Service, which is sponsored by the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of
Police, is one in a series of events which includes the Candlelight Vigil,
which is sponsored by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
(NLEOMF) and seminars sponsored by Concerns of Police Survivors
(C.O.P.S.)
National Police Week draws in between
25,000 to 40,000 attendees. The
attendees come from departments throughout the United States as well as from
agencies throughout the world. This
provides a unique opportunity to meet others that share a common
brotherhood. In that spirit, the
Fraternal Order of Police DC Lodge #1 sponsors receptions each afternoon and
evening during Police Week. These events
are open to all law enforcement personnel and are an experience unlike any
other.
Locally we would like to honor all of our local police and sheriff’s
officers during Police Week. We
sincerely appreciate all the work they do to continue to keep our communities
safe. Their jobs are unique to each area
and require dedication. They put their lives on the line on a daily basis to
protect all of us. I encourage everyone
to reach out during National Police Week and give your local police and sheriff’s
departments a big “thank you” and let them know how much we appreciate their
service. Mary Hughes, Moultrie County Coordinator
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