By Police1 Staff
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, 701 new names of fallen law enforcement officers were formally dedicated during the 33rd Annual Candlelight Vigil. Those names include 434 who died in 2019 and 2020, according to a press release from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF).
The annual vigil, part of Police Weekend 2021, was held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. ET. You can view the entire vigil below.
“The stories behind each of the 701 new names […] are so special,” said Marcia Ferranto, CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. “To pay them proper tribute, each of their names will be read as a part of the ceremony and will be forever etched on the walls of the Memorial and in the hearts of an eternally grateful nation. To them and the families that they represent, and to all law enforcement professionals who serve each day to protect us, thank you.”
Attorney General Merrick Garland led the candle lighting and reading of the fallen officers’ names. Guest speakers included: Rev. Markel Hutchins, leader of the National Faith & Blue Weekend; Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security; Emilio Miyares, the former president of the non-profit C.O.P.S.; and Lori Sharpe Day, an NLEOMF board member.
Click here to find the names of officers added to the memorial.
For more information about the vigil and National Police Week events, see here.
https://twitter.com/CWexlerPERF/status/1448786149791645704 https://twitter.com/CommissBratton/status/1448783669489909761 https://twitter.com/DFOBaltimore/status/1448804242383323136 https://twitter.com/LubbockPolice/status/1449011271777538052