Ambassador & Guardian Spotlight: Martin Schrampfer

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund enjoys the support of a special group of volunteers: Law Enforcement Ambassadors and Guardians. Law Enforcement Ambassadors are active and retired law enforcement officers from city, state, federal and military law enforcement agencies, while Law Enforcement Guardians are volunteers who support and honor law enforcement but are not sworn officers, allowing citizens, family members and corporate supporters to work closely with the Memorial Fund in achieving our goals.

Over 15 years ago, Patrol Officer Martin Schrampfer came from Menasha, WI to learn more about what National Police Week was all about. After attending the Candlelight Vigil for the first time, Martin felt the important role the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial plays in the lives of law enforcement officers and their families. That’s when he decided to become a Law Enforcement Ambassador. “As I watched the survivors come off the buses to attend the Vigil I knew I needed to do something because it was the right thing to do,” he said.  

After returning to the Vigil twice since that day 15 years ago, Martin noticed all the different car/motorcycle tags on vehicles he saw parked around the Memorial. That led to an idea: Wisconsin needs to spread the word about the Memorial Fund with a state license tag.

Everyone has a thought from time to time that something needs to be done, but how many people take action? Martin did. Once returning from Police Week, he reached out to his State Representative Dean Kaufert, a son of a Neenah police officer, to get a Memorial Fund license tag in Wisconsin. 

Representative Kaufert agreed that Wisconsin needed a tag to not only remind residents about the sacrifice that law enforcement officers make each day but to let others know about the National Memorial in Washington, DC. Despite two failed efforts for the bill to become law, Ambassador Schrampfer pushed Representative Kaufert to try a third and final time this session. With the support of State Senator Mike Ellis, this time the bill made it to the Wisconsin State Senate and was passed. On April 16, Ambassador Schrampfer watched as Governor Scott Walker signed bill AB208 into law.
  
Ambassador Schrampfer’s idea became reality thanks to support from the Chief at the Menasha Police Department and so many others throughout the state. Now that that the bill has been signed it will take 6 to 10 months for production to begin. Stay tuned for more information. 

Police Week 2014

Thank you to all our friends and supporters for another highly successful Police Week! This year, we honored the addition of 286 American Law Enforcement heroes to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

Pre-Police Week events began on Sunday, May 4  at the 23rd Annual Correctional Officers Wreath Laying Ceremony. During this event, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Corrections Chiefs Committee gathered at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to honor correctional officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.



Events continued on Tuesday, May 6 during the 20th Annual Blue Mass. During the event, public safety and law enforcement officers from the Washington, DC Metropolitan area gathered at St.Patrick’s Catholic Church to pray for a mass to honor those who serve in law enforcement and fire safety, and remember the fallen.



On Friday, May 9, The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) of Washington, DC, the Fraternal Order of Police DC Lodge #1, and the DC Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors hosted the 35th Annual Washington Area Police Memorial Service at MPD’s Headquarters in downtown DC with Jennifer Donelan of ABC/WILA-TV, as master of ceremonies.



Police Week activities officially kicked off when the 19th Annual Law Ride rode into town on Sunday, May 11. Hundreds of motorcyclists cruised from RFK Stadium past the U.S. Capitol, down Pennsylvania Avenue, and up 5th Street on their way to the Memorial.



Police Week 2014 really geared up on Monday, May 12 when the 18th Annual Police Unity Tour arrived at the Memorial. It was a sight to see when 1,800 riders made their way through the Memorial's Pathways of Remembrance. After a brief ceremony, the Police Unity Tour presented the Memorial Fund's Chairman & CEO Craig Floyd with a check for $1.91 MILLION dollars, their biggest donation yet to the Memorial Fund!



Tuesday, May 13 marked the biggest and most important day during Police Week, the night of the 26th Annual Candlelight Vigil. Despite a rain delay, thousands gathered at the Memorial to raise their candles high in honor of the 20,267 officers on the Memorial.



Police Week events didn't after the Candlelight Vigil. On Wednesday, May 14 the runners participating in the 18th Annual Law Enforcement Memorial Run completed their journey from Philadelphia, PA to the Memorial in honor of fallen officers from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.



Also on the Wednesday the 14th, the 20th Annual Emerald Society and Pipeband March and Service made their way to the Memorial. During the event, the Emerald Society, an organization of American police officers or fire fighters of Irish heritage, remembered all law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, in particular officers of Gaelic descent. Emerald Societies from all over the US participated in the march.



Police Week events also included the 33rd Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Day Services at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, May 15. After the ceremony, the Fraternal Order of Police and Fraternal Order of Police Auxillary brought their wreath to the Memorial, where Honor Guard teams from all over the U.S. stood watch over it until midnight.



Police Week is a very special time for us here at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, and we are proud to be able to host the various events that happen during the week. Thank you again to all of those who participated in Police Week events, both in person and online through watching the live stream of the Candlelight Vigil on Officer.com and participating in our United By Light virtual candle campaign.

National Peace Officers Memorial Day

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 2014 — Sunday, May 11th through Saturday, May 17th.

At the conclusion of the 33rd 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 walked through the Memorial, and the flags were returned to full staff, signaling the end of Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Congratulations to the Winner of this Year’s Harley Davidson!

The National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Fund would like to extend our congratulations to the winner of this year’s Harley Davidson raffle, Ms. Karen R.!

Karen has been buying 4 tickets each year, and she said she thought this was her year!

Karen is a long time supporter of the Memorial Fund as her brother is a Grand Prairie, Texas Police Sergeant. We greatly appreciate her support and send her our well wishes for her new ride!

20th Annual Emerald Society & Pipeband March and Service

The Emerald Society, an organization of American police officers or fire fighters of Irish heritage, held the 20th Annual Emerald Society and Pipeband March and Service on Wednesday, May 14th. 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.

26th Annual Candlelight Vigil

Last night, the nation paused to formally dedicate the names of 286 fallen law enforcement heroes, added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in 2013. Of the 286 names, 100 were officers killed in the line of duty during 2013 and 186 were names of officers previously undiscovered.

U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. delivered poignant keynote remarks and led the lighting of candles and reading of the fallen officers’ names



Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, and Madeline Neumann, National President of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), also participated in the annual tribute to fallen officers, a special part of the National Police Week observance in the nation’s capital.

The evening’s program also featured musical tributes and a special recognition of survivors of fallen officers, as well as some dignitaries and guests, including Senator Lisa Murkowski representing the state of Alaska.



The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund also partnered with Clear Channel Outdoor to raise awareness across the country to honor these fallen officers, as well as raise awareness about the annual Candlelight Vigil and United By Light events and virtual candle wall. And for the sixth year in a row, USA Today has printed a quarter page ad in honor of the 100 officers who died in 2013.

The national monument now contains the names of 20,267 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 last night's services. 

18th Annual Law Enforcement Memorial Run- Philadelphia to DC

The 18th 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 18 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.

During the post-run ceremony, the group honored the families of fallen Officer William J. McCarthy, IV, Shenango Township (PA) Police Department, Officer Daniel "J.J." Lomax, Forest City Borough (PA) Department, and Officer Jason L. Schneider, Baltimore County (MD) Police Department. Each family was presented a plaque by James Harrity, Pennsylvania State Fraternal Order of Police.

Thank You, USA Today, for Honoring our Fallen Heroes

When it comes to honoring the memory of our nation’s fallen law enforcement heroes, the Gannett Co. gets it.

 For the sixth 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 7A of the May 13th edition, lists the names of all 100 officers who died in law enforcement service during 2013. 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.

Police Unity Tour 2014

Shortly after 2 pm today, nearly 1,800 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 $1.91 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 20,267 officers killed in the line of duty.

19th Annual LawRide

This Mother’s Day, law enforcement officers and motorcycle enthusiasts gathered at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC to prepare for the 19th Annual LawRide to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Hundreds of motorcyclists cruised past the U.S. Capitol, down Pennsylvania Avenue, and up 5th Street on their way to the Memorial.



Immediately following the ride, a ceremony was held and four ceremonial wreaths were placed at the Memorial’s center medallion, to honor all the fallen heroes of American law enforcement.

 For photos from the 2014 LawRide, as well as from other events happening during National Police Week, follow NLEOMF at www.facebook.com/nleomf, on instagram @nleomf and on twitter @nleomf.

For more information about National Police Week 2014, including a complete schedule of events, visit www.LawMemorial.org/PoliceWeek.

35th Annual Washington Area Police Memorial Service

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) of Washington, DC, the Fraternal Order of Police DC Lodge #1, and the DC Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors hosted the 35th Annual Washington Area Police Memorial Service at MPD’s Headquarters in downtown DC with Jennifer Donelan of ABC/WILA-TV, as master of ceremonies.



This annual service recognizes the work of all DC Metro area law enforcement officers. Special recognition was given to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in 2013, including Special Agent Christopher William Lorek, Special Agent Stephen Shaw, Special Agent Sang Jin, Officer Jason Schenider, and K-9 "Maxo".

Following the presentation of colors and the national anthem, introductory remarks were given by District of Columbia Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier, followed by remarks from District of Columbia Mayor Vincent C. Gray and guest speaker Stacia A. Hylton, Director of the United States Marshals Service. Representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore County Police Department, and United States Secret Service spoke about their officers lost in the past year, which was followed by a solemn roll call of fallen heroes from the DC Metro area.

Survivors, law enforcement officers and friends placed blue roses along the edge of the fountain at the Washington Law Enforcement Memorial as the names of the fallen were read. As a special tribute, an MPD helicopter conducted a ceremonial fly-over at the end of the service.

The names of the four officers honored at the service today will be dedicated on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial at the 26th Annual Candlelight Vigil this Sunday, May 13 at 8:00 pm, along with 286 other officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

For more information about National Police Week 2014, including a complete schedule of events, visit www.LawMemorial.org/PoliceWeek.

GUEST POST: Officer Survival Spotlight- Much More Than a Job: Creating a Lasting Tribute

Originally published 5/6/2014 HERE.

Brian McAllister, formerly with the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department, serves as a training instructor with the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted Officer Safety Awareness Training Program.

“The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names.” If we were to subscribe to this Chinese proverb, then all 19,981 names engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial (NLEOM) would be changed to “hero.” The groundbreaking for the NLEOM was in 1989, and the memorial officially was dedicated 2 years later in October 1991. The 2013 candlelight vigil marked the 25th anniversary of the vigil and the 23rd year the memorial has been in place.

In 1962 President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.

If people did not know better, they would assume the NLEOM was just another memorial in a city known for them. Law enforcement officers from across the nation and families of fallen heroes know this site to be hallowed ground and uniquely different from all other memorials, unique because it honors America’s domestic soldiers who fought wars on the nation’s streets and different because the memorial changes every year with the addition of new names. What has not changed in the 23 years in which the memorial has been in place are the two men who painstakingly have stenciled and engraved every fallen officer’s name, forever honoring the ultimate sacrifice upon marbleized limestone.

Two Denver-based craftsmen, Jim and Kirk, first began working in Washington, D.C., in 1986 as the contractors hired to add names to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial located on the National Mall. Their workmanship and attention to detail secured their selection as the stencilist and engraver for the NLEOM.

Jim and Kirk engrave the names of fallen law enforcement officers on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. (Photos used with permission from the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.)

I believe the highest tribute I can pay these heroes is to study the circumstances that brought them to the memorial and learn from them so history is not repeated.

In the 1970s these two men pioneered a system of photographic stenciling and still use this technology today. The process involves creating a rubberized stencil with a row of up to six names to be added to a single memorial panel. The stencils are affixed to the panel, and a sandblasting-type of system, using a resin composite in lieu of sand, involves firing particles against the stone at a velocity of 80 pounds per square inch. The engraver slowly sweeps back and forth to ensure each letter is uniform in shape, size, and depth. Getting the depth right is both a scientific experiment and a work of art.

The stone for the memorial originated from Canada. It is a marbleized limestone and presents unique challenges because it is both hard and soft. Therefore, the engraver must know which stone he is working with to ensure a consistent depth of all letters. To this end, measurements are routinely taken throughout the process.

Around the middle of April each year, Jim and Kirk arrive in Washington, D.C., to start work on the memorial. They complete about six panels a day, each containing up to six names, for an average of 36 names per day. Since taking on this mission in 1989, the men have engraved as few as 250 and as many as 480 names per year. In April 2013 they added 321 new names to the memorial. Unfortunately, this team finds work plentiful. 

When asked if they think of their work as a job, Jim said, “We can’t call it a job. Too much goes into it, too much meaning. It’s not that simple. I think about every single name as they are added to the wall, the sacrifice they made, and why we’re here. It’s all very emotional, and I feel this huge sense of honor and privilege to be part of it.”

“This is work that means something,” Kirk said. “This memorial gives comfort to the families. I think about the families left behind, the survivors. I do this for them. I feel incredibly honored to work on this memorial.”

… I am convinced that the three acres that comprise the NLEOM hold the most value—law enforcement officers first must pay the ultimate price to be inscribed upon these memorial walls.

The NLEOM means a lot of different things to many people. From my own perspective, the memorial is a place to reflect and honor the people I personally knew and worked with while serving 28 years with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington, D.C. During my tenure, the MPD added 23 names to the NLEOM. I believe the highest tribute I can pay these heroes is to study the circumstances that brought them to the memorial and learn from them so history is not repeated.

As hard as Jim and Kirk work to carefully add names to the memorial, there are organizations, like the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, that work just as hard to keep additional officers from reaching the memorial. The LEOKA Program uses data collection and research to identify situations in which officers are killed and assaulted, statistical descriptions of those incidents, and the publication of data to aid law enforcement agencies in developing policies to minimize risk and improve officer safety. The ultimate goal of the LEOKA Program is to make the NLEOM just like the rest of the memorials in Washington, D.C.—never changing.

Jim and Kirk’s feelings toward the memorial run deep and are comprised of mixed emotions. Jim questions the need for such a memorial. “I really hate putting names on the wall,” Jim said. “I honestly wish we didn’t have to do it, that there would be no reason for it.” Kirk agrees and believes the memorial is a wonderful tribute to those who gave their lives in service to others. However, he also sees the memorial as a vivid reminder of the violence woven into the fabric of this nation.

One thing is for certain. Until Jim gets his wish and the LEOKA Program accomplishes its ultimate goal, we can take comfort in knowing these two men stand ready to honor the ultimate sacrifice of our fallen officers with unmatched workmanship and attention to detail. Although cities, such as New York, may have some of the highest priced properties in the United States, I am convinced that the three acres that comprise the NLEOM hold the most value—law enforcement officers first must pay the ultimate price to be inscribed upon these memorial walls.

“Carved on these walls is the story of America, of a continuing quest to preserve both democracy and decency, and to protect a national treasure that we call the American dream.”

President George H.W. Bush

Mr. McAllister can be contacted at brian.mcallister@ic.fbi.gov.

20th Annual Blue Mass

Today, public safety and law enforcement officers from the Washington, DC Metropolitan area gathered at St.Patrick’s Catholic Church to pray for a mass to honor those who serve in law enforcement and fire safety, and remember the fallen. The Mass included an honor guard, bagpipers, and the solemn playing of "Taps" in memory of those who gave their lives in the past year.

Blue Mass began in 1934, when police officers gathered to pray for their fallen comrades and seek God's blessing for their own safety. The tradition stopped in the mid-1970s but has since resumed in grander fashion than ever. The name "Blue Mass" comes from the traditional color of many officers' uniforms.

Before Mass, hundreds of law enforcement officers and public safety officials gather outside for the solemn processional into St. Patrick's. Units from federal, state, and local jurisdictions gather in formation to pass under a huge American flag proudly hung over the street by two fire ladder trucks. Also gathered outside are officers on horseback, as well as pipe and drum corps units.

The principal celebrant and homilist for the Blue Mass was His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington.

Howard County Police Memorial Service

On Monday, May 5th, Memorial Fund Chairman & CEO Craig Floyd attended the Howard County Police Memorial Service. While there, he honored seven courageous individuals—Charles Weber, Frank Miller, Randloph Brightwell, Ted Wolf, Roger Cassell Jr., Scott Wheeler and Shaft Hunter—all of whom died in the performance of duty in Howard County.

During his speech, Mr. Floyd thanked the Howard County officers for their service during the shooting incident at The Mall in Columbia on January 25th of this year, wherein a lone gunman shot and killed two people. "That incident was an extreme example of what officers must do on a daily basis—put your lives at risk for the safety and protection of others," he said. "Your response on January 25, not knowing what dangers might be waiting when you entered that Mall, was one of law enforcement’s finest moments. As frightened citizens rushed out of the Mall to safety, Howard County law enforcement professionals rushed in."

After Mr. Floyd's speech, Howard county presented the Memorial Fund with a check for $16,500. Thank you to the Howard County Police Department for their generous gift to the Memorial Fund.

23rd Annual Correctional Officers Wreath Laying Ceremony

Yesterday, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Corrections Chiefs Committee gathered at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to honor correctional officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.



Since the Memorial was first dedicated in October 1991, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Corrections Chiefs Committee has conducted an annual ceremony at the Memorial to recognize the service and sacrifice of our nation's correctional officers.

The roll call of fallen heroes was solemnly read aloud as members of the participating honor guards carried red roses to the center medallion of the Memorial. After each flower was placed, a single bell tolled. In a traditional symbolic gesture, white doves were released at the end of the ceremony and a wreath was placed at the medallion.

Today marks the start of National Correctional Officers and Employees Week (May 4-10, 2014), which was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. Proclaiming the first-ever National Correctional Officers' Week on May 5, 1984, President Reagan called “upon officials of State and local governments and the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

In 1996, Congress officially changed the name of the week to National Correctional Officers and Employees Week. These courageous heroes are forever remembered. Their light continues to shine through their memory and through the selfless men and women who continue to serve each day.