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.