When thousands of people swarm downtown D.C. on Sunday evening, it won’t be to attend a performance, watch a game or stage a protest.
Their purpose will be much more solemn: to honor hundreds of police officers who have died in the line of the duty.
The names of 362 fallen officers will be dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during a candlelight vigil at 8 p.m. Sunday. Those names include the 163 officers who died while on duty in 2011, as well as 199 others who died on the job in past years but whose names haven’t yet been added to the memorial.
Attorney General Eric Holder, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Foundation Chairman Craig Floyd and others will speak at the ceremony at the memorial, located on E Street NW between Fourth and Fifth streets. People can also watch the vigil online at lawmemorial.org/webcast.
The vigil is a way to “honor all of the brave men and women of law enforcement who put the safety and protection of others ahead of their own and who made the ultimate sacrifice in the process,” Floyd said in a statement.
Last year, five officers in Virginia, two in Maryland and one in the District died on duty. Those officers include a U.S. Park Police officer who collapsed after helping a man who plunged from the Key Bridge, a Maryland State Police trooper killed in a Howard County car crash and a Virginia Tech police officer slain while making a traffic stop.
“Coming to the ceremony in person or viewing it over the Internet is a way for all Americans to show their appreciation and respect for these heroes,” Floyd said.
Over the past week, police officers from across the nation have been biking to the District to raise money and awareness for the memorial. National Police Week is this week, and other memorial events include a conference for family members of slain officers and an honor guard competition.
