NATIONAL POLICE WEEK 2022:
HONORING AND REMEMBERING OUR
FALLEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

Communities across the nation will come together during National Police Week, May 11-17, to honor and remember those law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the family members, friends, and fellow officers they left behind.

The limestone walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. bear the names of over 23,000 law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty (http://NLEOMF.org). There will be another 619 names added to the memorial this year with 147 of those being officers who lost their lives in previous years whose stories of sacrifice had been lost to history until now. One of those was my wife's grandfather, Pratt Mizell of the Charlton County, Georgia Sheriff's Office, who was murdered by an escapee in 1938.

The names of all 619 fallen officers nationwide will be formally dedicated during the 34th Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2022 which will be held on the National Mall in Washington. People across the country can experience this unique and powerful ceremony which will be livestreamed beginning at 8 PM (EDT) on May 13th and can be watched at  https://nleomf.org/vigil, https://www.facebook.com/NLEOMF/, and https://www.YouTube/theNLEOMF.

The annual wreath laying ceremony at the memorial will happen on Sunday, May 15th at 3:00PM and it can also be viewed live at https://www.YouTube/theNLEOF.

United States Public Law 87-726 was passed by Congress during the administration of President John F. Kennedy in 1962. It designated May 15 th of each year as National Peace Officer Memorial Day. That statute was amended by United States Public Law 103-322 and made the day one of only two days each year, the other being Armed Forces Memorial Day, that government agencies, businesses and residents are required by law to fly their U.S. flags at half-staff.

I humbly urge everyone to give pause and remember the men and women of our country who have lost their lives in the line of duty serving and protecting this nation this Sunday.

Most Sincerely,

Howard R. Sills, Sheriff
Putnam County, Georgia