May 15 was Peace Officers Memorial Day, established to honor all law enforcement professionals who sacrificed their lives to protect others. The entire week of May 14 – 20 is National Police Week. “Too often, Fairfax County’s rank-and-file law enforcement officers have been unfairly devalued and even demonized by ideological zealots,” Fairfax GOP Chairman Steve Knotts said today. “Our county’s men and women in blue deserve our thanks and our support.”
Governor Glenn Youngkin honored the Commonwealth’s law enforcement officers during a ceremony in Virginia Beach. “May God protect and bless Virginia’s law enforcement professionals and their families,” the governor tweeted on Thursday.
Earlier, Governor Youngkin issued a formal proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 14 – 20 as National Police Week in Virginia. “Virginia Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day are opportunities to honor the officers who have fallen in the line of duty, recognize the sacrifices made by the families of those officers, and the families of those who continue to protect and serve our communities,” the governor declared.
READ THE FULL PROCLAMATION:
WHEREAS, the safety and well-being of Virginians is important to the prosperity of Virginia’s families and communities; and
WHEREAS, law enforcement officers throughout our Commonwealth work tirelessly to protect and serve the citizens across the Commonwealth, enforce our laws, and keep our neighborhoods, schools, and families safe; and
WHEREAS, law enforcement officers report for duty every day with the knowledge of the dangers they may face and the sacrifices they may be called upon to make to safeguard the public and enforce the laws of the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, we reflect upon the enduring commitment and valor of our state and local law enforcement officers, as their commitment to maintaining law and order in our communities ensures the safety and well-being of the citizens of the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, it is vital that we pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who have fallen in the line of duty and recognize their sacrifices, as well as the hardship and loss suffered by the families of those fallen officers; and
WHEREAS, in 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed the first proclamation recognizing May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which it falls as National Police Week, “to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and to voice our appreciation for those who currently serve on the front lines of the battle against crime;” and
WHEREAS, Virginia Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day are opportunities to honor the officers who have fallen in the line of duty, recognize the sacrifices made by the families of those officers, and the families of those who continue to protect and serve our communities;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize May 14-20, 2023, as VIRGINIA POLICE WEEK, and May 15, 2023, as PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call these observances to the attention of our citizens.
