Remembering America's Military Veterans

Today, the nation pauses to remember and honor its military veterans.

When it comes to honoring and remembering the fallen, nobody does it better than the military and law enforcement. The names of 30 brave men and women killed in the line of duty while serving as law enforcement officers, abroad and at home, are engraved on the marble walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

The line between law enforcement and military service is often blurred. Many veterans of foreign wars turn to policing when they come home. Many police officers are military reservists.

This Veteran's Day, leave a tribute to recognize all the countless contributions military and law enforcement officers make each day to protect our country and ensure our freedom.

An inscription on the Memorial sums up the meaning of the heroic and selfless deeds performed by law enforcement and military professionals. It reads:  In Valor There is Hope.  As long as there are men and women among us who are willing to put their lives at risk for our freedom and safety, there is indeed great hope for the future of our nation and our world.

Honorary Chairman, Clint Eastwood tours the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

Early this morning, legendary actor and director Clint Eastwood toured the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. As Honorary Chairman of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and the National Law Enforcement Museum, Mr. Eastwood helps raise public awareness and support for the Memorial and Museum with an informative PSA campaign.

Mr. Eastwood was in town to premiere his new movie, J. Edgar, which examines the compelling life of the first FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover, portrayed by actor Leonardo DiCaprio. The National Law Enforcement Museum and Warner Bros. co-hosted the film’s DC debut at the Newseum. An event recap and photos are available at http://lawenforcementmuseum.blogspot.com/.

During the tour of the Memorial, Mr. Eastwood was shown Panel: 34-W: 20, which contains the name of Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alan G. Whicher.  Asst. SAIC Whicher’s entire protective detail shift was filmed for three months as part of the 1993 movie, In the Line of Fire, starting Mr. Eastwood. Tragically, SAIC Whicher was killed in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, OK on April 19, 1995. Along with an etching of SAIC Whicher’s name, Mr. Eastwood was presented with a bronze lion statue  to take home with him, as a token of appreciation for his support and dedication to the law enforcement community.

Head of the Iraqi Police Service Visit National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

Last week, Deputy Minister Aydin, head of the Iraqi Police Service toured the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. Memorial Fund Chairman & CEO, Craig W. Floyd, showed him panels 9-W to 22-W, where the names of 72 officers killed on September 11, 2001 are engraved. Deputy Minister Aydin laid a rose to honor their service and sacrifice.

Deputy Minister Aydin is a law enforcement officer and head of the Iraqi Police Service, which has 300,000 uniformed officers and is the largest police force in Iraq. Three years ago, Honorable Jawad Karim al Bulani, Iraqi Minister of the Interior, visited the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to lay a ceremonial wreath in honor of all law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

At that time, he remarked that approximately 12,000 Iraqi police and security officers have died in the line of duty. Sadly, Deputy Minister Aydin shared that figure had grown to over 19,000 officers killed since 2003.

Memorial’s 20th Anniversary Gala

Bird's eye view of the Color Guard entering the 20th Anniversary Gala

Guests celebrated 20 years of  honoring America’s law enforcement officers—especially the fallen heroes—at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial’s 20th Anniversary Gala on Wednesday evening, October 12, in Washington, DC.  All proceeds from the Gala benefit the National Law Enforcement Museum.  The Honorable Michael Chertoff, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, served as Chair of the star-studded event.  Actor Richard Belzer of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit served as the event’s Master of Ceremonies. Also joining the celebration was actor and National Law Enforcement Museum National Spokesperson, Vincent D’Onofrio, who welcomed guests and introduced the event.

Other special moments from the evening included a video tribute from former President George H.W. Bush, who dedicated the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial 20 years ago, and now serves as Co-Chair of the National Honorary Campaign Committee of the National Law Enforcement Museum, along with former President Bill Clinton. Actor, director, and producer, Clint Eastwood, who serves as Honorary Chairman of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and National Law Enforcement Museum, also shared some encouraging words of support for the Museum via video.

Stirring musical tributes from singer Daniel Rodriguez, Pipe Major Steve Butterbrodt of the Port Authority of NY/NJ Police Department Pipe & Drums, and Officer Chris Jackson (ret.) of the Metropolitan Police Department of DC, were beautiful parts of the celebration.  Linda Moon Gregory, National President of Concerns of Police Survivor, Pat Montuore, Police Unity Tour Founder and CEO, and Barb Lyons, Police Unity Tour participant and mother of fallen Oregon State Trooper Scott Lyons,  also shared touching remarks.

Dick Wolf, of Law & Order fame, received the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's 2011 “Distinguished Service Award.  The evening included a 20th Anniversary Memorial and Museum video tribute produced by A&E Television, that beautifully captured the meaning and essence of the Memorial and upcoming Museum.

The event offered one of the first glimpses of the upcoming Museum’s Hall of Remembrance, an exhibit designed to tell the stories behind the names currently inscribed on the national monument dedicated to America’s fallen law enforcement officers.  It was a wonderful way to raise money for the Museum and recognize American law enforcement for their role in upholding the ideals of the U.S. Constitution.

Additionally, the announcement of a $2 million dollar gift to the National Law Enforcement Museum was made at the Memorial’s 20th Anniversary Gala. The gift from GLOCK, Inc. will be used to develop an educational and interactive exhibit at the National Law Enforcement Museum called The History Beat. GLOCK is a global manufacturer of pistols and accessories and is the pistol of choice for over 65% of American law enforcement agencies.

14th Annual Canadian Police and Peace Officers' Memorial Day

On September 25, 2011, thousands of police officers converged on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada for the 14th Annual Police and Peace Officers' Memorial Day.

In 1998, the Canadian Government declared the last Sunday of every September as Canadian Police and Peace Officers' Memorial Day. The Memorial service is similar to our May 15th National Peace Officers Memorial Day, celebrated each year in the United States during National Police Week.

Four officers killed in 2010 and 2011 were honored at this service:

• Constable Garrett Styles, York Regional Police
• Sergeant Ryan J. Russell, Toronto Police
• Constable Sébastien Coghlan-Goyette, Sûreté du Québec
• Constable Michael B. Potvin, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

According to a statement from Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, "The Canadian Police and Peace Officers' Annual Memorial Service gives Canadians an opportunity to formally express their appreciation for the dedication of police and peace officers, who contribute so much to keeping our communities safe and to those who have paid the ultimate price."

The Canadian Memorial now contains the names of over 800 fallen officers. A total of 51 names were added to the Memorial in 2011, including the four officers listed above and the names of 47 officers from historical cases, with 43 of those officers from the Province of Quebec.

More information about the Canadian Police Memorial is available at: http://www.cacp.ca. 

http://uspolitics.einnews.com/pr-news/541996-media-advisory-governor-general-to-attend-the-canadian-police-and-peace-officers-34th-annual-memorial-service
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/09/25/ott-police-memorial.html
http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110925/OTT_police_ceremony_110925/20110925/?hub=OttawaHome

Photograph by: Arlen Redekop, PNG
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/news/5456192/story.html?tab=PHOTO

Why I'm Running: Detective Gene Fox

In about a month, Detective Gene Fox will make the long journey from the state of Texas to Washington, DC to participate in the Law Enforcement Ride & Run to Remember on October 16, 2011. Watch the video below to hear why Det. Fox decided to participate in this event and why you should join him in honoring all of America's law enforcement heroes by registering for the Ride & Run today.

Ten Years After The Terrorist Attacks Of September 11, 2001

Today, at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, we honored the 72 American peace officers killed tragically on September 11, 2001.

Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr., gave the keynote speech and was joined by FBI Director Robert Mueller, United States Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan, United States Park Police Chief Teresa Chambers, Former Chief of the Port Authority of NY & NJ Police Department Joseph Morris, and Port Authority Officers Cesare Morales and Paul Nunziato in reading the names of all 72 officers killed that day.



"Because of them, the anniversary we observe every September 11th will always be about far more than the buildings that our enemies brought down, or the damage that they inflicted on our fellow citizens. It’s about honoring the heroism we witnessed on that fateful day – and the resilience that the American people have shown since,"said Attorney General Holder.

"Let this be our commitment to those we honor this morning – the 72 brave individuals whose names are etched, along with more than 19,000 others, into the walls of this memorial. Let us carry on their unfinished work and strive – in their honor – to promote, not only safety and security, but also peace – and, above all, justice. And – as we leave this place today – let us do everything in our power to ensure that – in our own time, in the lives of our children, and in the work of future generations – the stories, the memories, and the rich legacies of those we lost on September 11th will never be forgotten," he concluded.

Special thanks to United States Capitol Police Officer Melissa Recchuiti Gibson, Officer Mike McCann of the Virgina State Police, and Captain Kathy Harasek for their participation in today's ceremony.

To view the full text of the Attorney General's speech from today, visit http://www.nleomf.org/newsroom/speeches/attorney-general-eric-holder.html.