Christian Smith
WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — In honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day, flags across America are flying at half-staff on Wednesday.
In Washington, D.C., the National Fraternal Order of Police and the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliaries are preparing to host the National Peace Officers Memorial Service on the West Front of the United States Capitol.
Remembering those who fell
The ceremony will be held in memory and honor of the men and women killed in the line of duty. Family members of the fallen officers and fellow officers are expected to be present.
For 43 years, the memorial service has honored the men and women who died while serving in the line of duty. Honor guard teams will take 15-minute shifts for twelve hours, guarding the memorial wreaths that will be laid for fallen officers.
As part of his Peace Officers Memorial Day proclamation, President Joe Biden wrote: “Every day, law enforcement officers put up their shields and head out the door, running into danger to keep the rest of us safe. Being a police officer is more than what they do – it’s who they are.”
The service is scheduled to begin around noon ET and is expected to run for three and a half hours.
National Police Week
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WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 13: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland visits the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to commemorate the start of Police Week on May 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. May 15 was proclaimed as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week it falls on as Police Week by President John F. Kennedy decades ago, but what began with a small group in the early 1980s has grown to thousands of people gather annually in Washington, DC to reflect, honor and support police officers. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) -
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 13: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland looks at photographs, flowers and mementos left for fallen officers as he visits the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to commemorate the start of Police Week in 13 May 2024 in Washington, DC. May 15 was proclaimed as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week it falls on as Police Week by President John F. Kennedy decades ago, but what began with a small group in the early 1980s has grown to thousands of people gather annually in Washington, DC to reflect, honor and support police officers. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) -
UNITED STATES – MAY 13: Chief Spike Jones of the Kenton County, Kentucky, Police Department, attends an event at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to honor law enforcement officers who lost their lives in 2023, on Monday, May 13, 2024. The event was part of the annual Police Week meeting. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) -
UNITED STATES – MAY 13: Hudson, 2, son of McAlester (Okla.) Police Department Patrolman Joseph Lee Barlow, who was killed on Monday, March 20, 2023, attends an event at National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to honor police officers who lost their lives in 2023, on Monday, May 13, 2024. The event was part of the annual Police Week gathering. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) -
UNITED STATES – MAY 13: Kimberly Redd, wife of Off. Geoffrey Redd of the Memphis Police Department, who was killed in the line of duty on February 18, 2023, mourns during an event at the National Law Enforcement Memorial to honor the officers who lost their lives in 2023, on Monday, 13 May 2024 The event was part of the annual Police Week meeting. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) -
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 13: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland visits the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to commemorate the start of Police Week on May 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. May 15 was proclaimed as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week it falls on as Police Week by President John F. Kennedy decades ago, but what began with a small group in the early 1980s has grown to thousands of people gather annually in Washington, DC to reflect, honor and support police officers. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) -
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 13: U.S. Attorney Merrick Garland consoles Alicia Marconi, a deputy sheriff in Oneida County, New York, who becomes emotional as she mourns her friend and co-worker Kurt B. Wyman at National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on May 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. May 15 was proclaimed as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week it falls on as Police Week by President John F. Kennedy decades ago, but what began with a small group in the early 1980s has grown to thousands of people gather annually in Washington, DC to reflect, honor and support police officers. Wyman was a deputy sheriff who was killed in the line of duty on June 7, 2011. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) -
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 13: (RL) U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco visit the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to commemorate the commencement of Police Week on May 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. May 15 was proclaimed as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week it falls on as Police Week by President John F. Kennedy decades ago, but what began with a small group in the early 1980s has grown to thousands of people gather annually in Washington, DC to reflect, honor and support police officers. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) -
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 13: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland (L) stops to view photos, flowers and mementos left for fallen police officers as he visits the National Law Enforcement Memorial to commemorate the start of Police Week in May 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. May 15 was proclaimed as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week it falls on as Police Week by President John F. Kennedy decades ago, but what began with a small group in the early 1980s has grown to thousands of people gather annually in Washington, DC to reflect, honor and support police officers. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) -
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 13: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland (L) and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco (R) look at photographs, flowers and mementos left for fallen officers while visiting the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to celebrate the start of Police Week on May 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. May 15 was proclaimed as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week it falls on as Police Week by President John F. Kennedy decades ago, but what began with a small group in the early 1980s has grown to thousands of people gather annually in Washington, DC to reflect, honor and support police officers. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
This year, Peace Officers Memorial Day falls during National Police Week — a time when Americans can honor, remember and support the nation’s law enforcement officers. The week allows current officers, survivors and citizens to gather in the nation’s capital to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
The National Law Enforcement Memorial will host events throughout the week in memory of fallen law enforcement officers.
Data displayed on Memorial Down’s official page shows the dangers officers face.
So far this year, 58 officers have died while serving their communities. Twenty-five of those deaths happened last month.
More, 21 police officers have been shot and killed in the line of duty, including 23-year-old Euclid Police Department officer Jacob Derbin, who was killed Saturday after being ambushed by a suspect while responding to a disturbance call.
