Bill Alexander
Executive Director, Memorial
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

MAY | 2023

This is Why We're Here

With Police Week 2023 almost upon us, all of us here at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund are deep in preparations for our 35th Annual Candlelight Vigil. The Vigil, held every year on May 13th, is the signature event during Police Week where we memorialize the names of the men and women most recently added to the sacred walls of our Memorial. This year we added the names of 556 heroes, representing 224 line-of-duty deaths from 2022 and 332 from years prior. The names of 23,785 fallen officers are now inscribed on the blue-gray marble walls of our sacred Memorial. These brave men and women served their communities with courage and dedication, and we owe them a debt of gratitude that can never fully be repaid.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers each and every day. As we reflect on the service of these fallen heroes, particularly during Police Week 2023, we are reminded of the tremendous risks that law enforcement officers face in the line of duty. We must never forget their service, sacrifice, and dedication to keeping our communities safe. If you are unable to join us on The National Mall this May 13th, then I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the service of these brave men and women, and to honor their memory in your own way.

Kind regards,

Bill Alexander
Executive Director, Memorial
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund