In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which it falls as National Police Week. Eleven years later, President Ford followed suit and authorized EMS Week to celebrate emergency medical services, its practitioners and the important work they do in responding to emergencies.
On May 13, families and friends of fallen law enforcement officers will gather to participate in the candlelight vigil held at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. There they will honor the lives of the officers whose names were recently added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall. The Memorial was dedicated in 1991 by President George H.W. Bush.
Throughout the weeks of May 13-19 and May 20-26, emergency responders throughout our nation will gather to pay special recognition to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. DLA Installation Management is proud to join them to proclaim solidarity with the police and EMS professionals nationwide who put their lives on the line for their fellow citizens.
To commemorate both National Police Week and National EMS Week, DLA emergency responders will hold community celebrations as well as memorial observances throughout the enterprise to honor fallen officers across the country. Activities will include wreath laying and National Police Week ceremonies as well as other weeklong activities to honor fallen and current local, state and federal emergency response officers.
As part of the National Police Week events, flags across the United States, including at all DLA facilities, will be flown at half-staff on May 15th in remembrance of the more than 20,000 law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty throughout the nation's history.