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As someone who used to wear the badge, Police Memorial Week carries a weight that is hard to put into words.
It is a time carved out to remember the men and women who did not make it home, officers who gave everything in service to their communities.
I have stood shoulder to shoulder with people who would run toward danger without hesitation, not for glory, but because it was their duty. I have also stood in silence at memorials, hat in hand, with a heavy heart.
Even though I have stepped into a new chapter of life, one filled with trail dust, early sunrises, and the peace that only comes from a quiet hike through the backcountry, I have not forgotten what it means to serve and protect.
And I have not forgotten the ones who no longer can.
Police Memorial Week is not just a calendar event. It is a reminder. A call to honor the fallen, support the living, and come together as communities who still believe in gratitude and service.
Whether you are part of a small town or simply someone who wants to do more than scroll past a social media post, there is a way to show respect that fits who you are and where you live.
Because saying thank you does not have to be complicated. But it should always be sincere.
The Heart of Police Memorial Week
Police Memorial Week is not just a tradition. It is a pause. A moment when we as a country stop to recognize the cost of public service, the kind of service that asks everything from a person, including their life.
It began in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation naming May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the surrounding week as a time to honor the fallen.
Since then, departments, communities, and families across the nation have gathered each year to remember the officers who did not make it home. It is a time for reflection, but also for unity.
For those of us who have worn the uniform, this week is deeply personal.
It is a reminder of the names etched into stone walls, of roll calls that end with silence, of friendships cut short. But you do not have to be in law enforcement to feel the impact.
These officers were part of your community. They stood between danger and your front door. They walked school hallways, responded in storms, and ran toward the things most of us run from.
Remembering police officers killed in the line of duty is more than just an act of ceremony. It is a way of keeping their memory alive. It is how we say, “You mattered. You are not forgotten.”
You will see symbols this week. Blue ribbons tied around trees. Flags flown at half-staff. The thin blue line, often misunderstood, is not a political statement. It is a symbol of sacrifice. A line of courage standing between peace and chaos.
There are law enforcement remembrance events in every corner of the country this week, from small town courthouse gatherings to national ceremonies in Washington, D.C.
If you are looking for details on the official events, you can find the full schedule through the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
Because that is the heart of Police Memorial Week, it is not about headlines. It is about names. Lives. Service. And the belief that remembering is its own form of honor.
Community Tributes That Make a Difference
You do not need a big city budget or a fancy event planner to honor fallen officers.
What matters most during Police Memorial Week is that the tribute comes from the heart. Small towns, rural communities, and even a single neighborhood can find powerful ways to say, “We remember.”
Start simple, like a candlelight vigil at the town square.
I know of some agencies that leave an empty chair at a city council meeting with a badge number and name.
These may not make the evening news, but they mean everything to the families who carry the weight of that loss every day.
Some communities organize ceremonies for fallen officers, inviting local departments and the public to stand together in remembrance.
If your town does not already have one, consider starting it. Reach out to your police department or sheriff’s office. Ask what has been done in the past, and offer to help bring people together this year.
Not everything needs to be formal. Some of the most moving tributes to fallen police officers come from the quiet corners of town. Sidewalk chalk messages from kids. Porch lights shining blue. Flags placed outside homes and businesses. These gestures speak volumes without saying a word.
Want something meaningful and low-cost?
Try organizing a moment of silence at a local sports game or community gathering. Ask your church or community center to ring a bell or toll a bell at a set time. Create a public message board at your library or coffee shop where people can write the names of officers they want to remember.
Check out how some communities across the country are getting involved.
Visit PoliceWeek.org for ideas and information.
These are the kinds of National Police Week memorial ideas that do not take much to pull off, but leave a lasting impression. They remind us all that behind every uniform is a story, a family, a legacy.
If you are not sure what to do, just ask someone who has served. Chances are, they will have a name they carry in their heart. And giving them the space to say it out loud might be the most meaningful thing you can offer.
Because Saying Thank You Matters
One thing I learned during my years on the street is that not everyone likes law enforcement.
At least, not until they need us.
When the call comes in, when something goes wrong, when fear shows up at their front door, that is when the uniform suddenly matters.
Officers show up to do a job most people would never want. And they do it knowing full well that they might not come home.
I have seen things that most people only witness on movie screens. I have watched people run toward danger without hesitation. I have also stood at too many funerals, listened to bagpipes cry out over folded flags, and felt the weight of a badge that will never be worn again.
And I am not alone in that.
This is why supporting police during National Police Week means more than just lighting a candle or flying a flag.
It means recognizing that the freedoms we enjoy, like the ability to walk a quiet trail at sunrise or sit in peace beneath the open sky, are protected by people who put on the uniform and step into the unknown every day.
And if you are reading this right now, here is a challenge for you. Before this week is over, find one way to say thank you. Just one. It does not have to be public. It does not have to be grand. But it should be honest.
Because behind every badge is a person. And sometimes, the simplest words — Thank You — are the ones that stay with them the longest.
On a lighter note, if you are looking for something a little less emotional and a bit more entertaining, check out a post I wrote called How NOT to Get Pulled Over.
It might just save you from an awkward roadside chat one day.