[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6583-6584]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL POLICE WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Zeldin) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ZELDIN. Mr. Speaker, this week we celebrate National Police Week, 
when we recognize the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women 
who have lost their lives in the line of duty while serving to protect 
us.
  National Police Week began in 1962, when President John F. Kennedy 
signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day 
and the week in which that falls as Police Week.
  The memorial service began in 1982 as a gathering in Senate Park of 
approximately 120 survivors and supporters of law enforcement. Decades 
later, National Police Week has grown to a series of events which 
attracts thousands of survivors and law enforcement officers to our 
Nation's Capital each year. National Police Week draws in between 
25,000 and 40,000 participants.
  The National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, which is sponsored by 
the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, is one in a series of 
events which includes the candlelight vigil, which is sponsored by the 
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, and seminars sponsored 
by Concerns of Police Survivors.
  The attendees come from departments throughout the United States as

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well as from agencies throughout the world. This provides a unique 
opportunity to meet others who share a common brotherhood.
  Our police force all around America plays an essential role in our 
communities, putting their lives on the line every day to protect us.
  Just last week, in my home State of New York, a member of the NYPD, 
25-year-old Brian Moore from Long Island, was killed in the line of 
duty. I would like to take this opportunity to speak for so many fellow 
Long Islanders who want his family to know that Brian remains in our 
thoughts and our prayers during this very difficult time.
  Marc Mogil, a Floridian and former New Yorker, recently wrote to me 
very passionately, defending the law enforcement community, stating in 
part: ``Police officers merit our unwavering appreciation and support 
as loyal Americans and our awareness of the traditional and touching 
parting words almost always used amongst them: `stay safe.'''
  It is my strongly held belief that no child should grow up fearing or 
lacking respect for law enforcement. And for those who consider 
themselves to be protesters, who resort to violence and stealing and 
burning down a church-run senior center, you lose any shot of moral 
high ground when you resort to those tactics. It is so unfortunate that 
today, in our society, we have this antipolice culture, with people 
acting with unjustified acts of violence against our police force.
  Our police serve and protect us to keep our communities and citizens 
safe. This week, we honor them for their acts of selfless courage and 
leadership in our community.

                          ____________________