Today the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund released the roll call of names of 394 U.S. law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. These names will be engraved this month and formally dedicated at the 29th annual Candlelight Vigil held on the National Mall, between 4th and 7th streets on Saturday, May 13, at 8 pm.
Included in this list are the names of 143 officers who were killed in the line of duty in 2016 and 251 officers who were killed in prior years but had been forgotten by time until the Memorial Fund’s research staff and a team of dedicated volunteers found record of their law enforcement service. This year’s Vigil will also be dedicated to 75 officers who have died from illnesses related to the search and recovery efforts after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
When the addition of these 394 names is completed in late April, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial will bear the names of 21,183 officers representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, federal law enforcement, and military police agencies—all who have made the ultimate sacrifice in our nation’s history.
The engraving process begins with a lengthy stencil and proofing procedure conducted before the line of names is cut into the stone on each panel. Next, the first application of Silin stain is applied to the freshly-cut stone to give each letter the necessary color uniformity. Next, the panel is covered and will cure for 24-36 hours, weather dependent. The concluding step includes application of a final coat of Silin stain that is applied to the names. The panel is again covered and cured for 24-36 hours before final inspection by engravers. Once the inspection is finished, the covers are removed, and the panel is completed. Names will be engraved on 74 of the Memorial's 128 panels encompassing the east and west walls.
Each May 13, an estimated 25,000 people assemble for the annual Candlelight Vigil, a signature event of National Police Week when the names of these fallen officers are formally dedicated. Thanks to a partnership with Officer.com, the Vigil is streamed live online so that people across the country can witness this annual tribute to America’s law enforcement officers. Individuals interested in the free webcast can register online at www.UnitedByLight.org.
“Out of the 394 names we will be engraving this year, 75 of these officers have died in recent years from 9/11-related illnesses,” said Craig W. Floyd, President and CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. “These officers, who spent days and weeks doing search and recovery work after one of the most tragic days in American history, will be forever immortalized in the walls of this Memorial.”
The names of the 394 officers added to the National Memorial this year can be found at www.LawMemorial.org/2017RollCall. For a complete schedule of National Police Week events in Washington, DC, visit www.LawMemorial.org/PoliceWeek.
