The National Memorial Peace Officers' Service One law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 53 hours. Since 1792 nearly 19,000 U.S. law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice. In 2011, 166 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty. In these bad economic times, governments all across the United States are cutting law enforcement and at the detriment of their safety. These officers protect us without question, without hesitation, and often without regard for their own safety. To pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and to voice our appreciation for all those who currently serve on the front lines of the battle against crime, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved October 1, 1962 (75 Stat.676), has authorized and requested the President to designate May 15 of each year as "Peace Officers Memorial Day," and the week in which it falls as "Police Week" and by Public Law 103-322 (36 U.S.C. 175) has requested that the flag be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers' Memorial Day. - Proclamation Signed by President John F. Kennedy The Foundation's keystone event is the Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service. This Service honors those who gave their lives and seeks to assuage the grief of those families who lost a loved one in the line of duty. This event brings together the expanded law enforcement family -- the survivors, officers, and friends whom these heroes have left behind. Our national leaders -- the President of the United States, Cabinet members, Members of Congress, heads of various enforcement agencies and major recording artists -- join tens of thousands of officers at this solemn event to pay tribute to the fallen and to offer words of comfort to their surviving family members in attendance. In the past 20 years we have been honored to have the following guests at our Peace Officers' Memorial Service: United States Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama United States Attorneys General Janet Reno, John Ashcroft, Alberto Gonzales, Michael Mukasey, Eric Holder Marc Anthony, Tony Bennett, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Vince Gill, Billy Gilman, Lee Greenwood, Patti LaBelle, Jo Dee Messina, Tommy Mottola, Lee Ann Womack, Darryl Worley                The National Peace Officers' Memorial Service happens every year on the United States Capitol Lawn May 15 during National Police Week in Washington DC. This event is open to the public, and we would be pleased to see you there. As a tribute to these law enforcement officers who have lost their lives, we present a medal of honor to each of the families. At the end of the service, every family is given the opportunity to place a carnation on the memorial wreath at the base of the capitol. Blue ribbons are held high in remembrance and tears are shed for these brave men and women who gave given their lives for the greater good. As you can imagine a memorial service of this nature is not inexpensive and shouldn't be. We need you to make a financial sacrifice for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Please click on the donate button and make a difference in law enforcement. We want to thank you for your time and commitment to law enforcement. "These memorial events are solemn, to be sure, and rightly so. But they are also a time to rejoice--to rejoice in the bright light of the lives we honor today and in the unfailing valor of those who carry their work forward." - Attorney General Eric Holder

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