National Peace Officer’s Memorial Day has become a day for us to unite as a community and to honor those who have given their lives to protect us, our families and our freedom. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy declared May 15th as the day dedicated to honor all American heroes who have made this ultimate sacrifice.
President John F. Kennedy's proclamation states :
“It is important that our people know and understand the problems, duties, and responsibilities of their police departments and the necessity for cooperating with them in maintaining law and order. It is fitting and proper that we express our gratitude for the dedicated service and courageous deeds of law enforcement officers and for the contributions they have made to the security and well-being of all our people."
Kennedy invites every American to, “join in commemorating law enforcement officers, past and present, who by their faithful and loyal devotion to their responsibilities have rendered a dedicated service to their communities, and, in so doing, have established for themselves an enviable and enduring reputation for preserving the rights and security of all citizens.”
National Police Week reminds us all of the tremendous sacrifice that those who choose careers in law enforcement may be called to make, and it gives each of us an opportunity to appreciate all of those who have answered the call to stand firm on the thin blue line.
John F. Kennedy: "Proclamation 3537 - Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week," May 4, 1963. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=24099.