National Police Week

The history of Police Week:

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 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 who work in law enforcement. 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.

So this week we honor those who serve in the various law enforcement services around this country.

The heart of the week is centered on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The next few posts show the memorial and the special aspect it takes on for this week.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

About the Memorial:

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is centered in the 400 block of E Street, NW, Washington, DC and is the nation’s monument to law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Dedicated on October 15, 1991, the Memorial honors federal, state and local law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and protection of our nation and its people.

The Memorial features two curving, 304-foot-long blue-gray marble walls. Carved on these walls are the names of more than 21,000 officers who have been killed in the line of duty throughout U.S. history, dating back to the first known death in 1791. Unlike many other memorials in Washington, DC, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is ever-changing: new names of fallen officers are added to the monument each spring, in conjunction with National Police Week.

Designed by architect Davis Buckley, the Memorial sits on three acres of federal park land in an area of Washington, DC called Judiciary Square, the historic seat of our nation’s judicial branch of government. The Memorial grounds boast plush carpets of grass, nearly 60,000 plants and 128 trees. Each April, more than 10,000 daffodils bloom at the site, providing a burst of color for visitors. The Memorial’s central plaza features an intricate paving pattern and a bronze medallion with the Memorial Fund logo: a blue shield with a red rose draped across it.

Bordering the Memorial’s beautifully landscaped park are the two tree-lined "pathways of remembrance" where the names of the fallen officers are engraved. Each of the pathway entrances is adorned with a powerful statuary grouping of an adult lion protecting its cubs. Sculpted by Raymond Kaskey, the bronze statues symbolize the protective role of law enforcement officers and convey the strength, courage and valor that are hallmarks of those who serve and protect.

A number of commemorative ceremonies are held at the Memorial each year, and the site is visited by nearly a quarter million people annually. The Memorial’s beauty and tranquility make it a special place for reflection, contemplation or just a quiet moment away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Honoring the Fallen

Honoring the Four Legged Police

Also honored at the memorial were the dogs of the police force. This was very moving.

National Police Week

This was National Police Week in Washington DC.:

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.

These pictures are from the National Police Memorial which is located at Judiciary Square. It is a sad and solemn time to remember those police officers who have died in the line of duty to keep us safe.

National Police Week, Part II

Health Care Reform

I was going to comment on this earlier but some things came up which will be discussed in an upcoming post.

I was pleased that it was passed. I thought it was interesting that on one of the commentary programs I watch, Inside Washington, on Friday they talked like it was a done deal. They talked about when it passed and what the Republicans next step would be.

I was still skeptical. Then over the weekend the Tea Party people showed up. (It was a very busy weekend in Washington. Saturday was the DC Marathon, an anti-war march and of course the Tea Party. Sunday Tea Party again and the immigration reform march.) I guess I should not be surprised at the action of the Tea Party people when they went after members of Congress. Art and I discussed this on our most recent 2Politcal Podcast.

Several observations. They incredible hatred and bile by these people directed at the Democrats. The name calling: Nigger and Faggot. I wonder what the next step will be. But I wasn’t surprised at the reaction of some of the Republicans. I will say most said there was no place for this type of behavior. But not all of them felt that way.

This from Reps. Steve King (R-Iowa):

“I just don’t think it’s anything,” King said. “There are a lot of places in this country that I couldn’t walk through. I wouldn’t live to get to the other end of it.” He added that health-care supporters were “embellishing” the story to undermine the opposition.

First off the racist undertone of this comment is incredible. More to the point this is the grounds of the Capitol of the United States. There shouldn’t be any fear what so ever to walk across the street. And the “embellishing point” well that’s a load of crap.

The second comes from Devin Nunes (R-Calif.):

“When you use a totalitarian tactics, people, you know, begin to act crazy,” Nunes said on CSPAN. “I think that people have every right to say what they want. If they want to smear someone, they can do it.” He said the epithets were “not appropriate” but that the whole crowd shouldn’t be characterized by the behavior of a few members.

What totalitarian tactics are you talking about? And the best he can say about using faggot and nigger is they “aren’t appropriate.”

You have to wonder what it will take for all the Republicans to tone down their rhetoric. Like the lovely Governor Quitter who put on her site that people should reload.

I wonder what it will take for the Republicans to stop pandering to these people. Does property have to be vandalized? No wait that’s already happened. Calls by right wing bloggers for getting their guns ready to fight people? No wait that’s happened already too.

No guess someone is going to have to get seriously hurt or killed before that happens. But I’m sure there will be some way for the Republicans to blame the victim for bringing it on themselves.

National Police Week May 13-19

I came across this by accident. I saw some of the Police Unity Tour near the metro as I was heading down to the Mall. The stop I got off at was Judiciary Square and the exit I used opened right on to the Memorial. To learn more about the Memorial follow this link.