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An annual candlelight vigil lit up the Northwest side of D.C. Tuesday night, honoring the fallen law enforcement officials who died in the line of duty.
National Police Week began with a memorial service Tuesday at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Northwest D.C. Three-hundred-fifty-eight names of fallen officers were formally dedicated in a moving ceremony that began around 8 pm.
The names included 181 officers who were killed in 2007.
Montgomery County (web|news) Police Officer Luke Hoffman, Stafford County Police Officer Jason Mooney and D.C. Officer Wayne Pitt were all remembered. "It's a little comforting to know that other families are also dealing with the pain as well," said Pitt's wife Nichel.
Members of Howard County wore gray t-shirts bearing the badge number of Officer Scott Wheeler who was struck and killed on highway patrol. "It's very sad, he'd been married for only nine-months. So he leaves his wife and a lot of good friends and family behind," said Captain John McKissick.
Desiree Grimes of Hagerstown captured the name of her fiancee in stone. Smithsburg Police Officer Chris Nicholson was shot and killed while on a domestic violence call. "The love of my life. I would've taken the bullet for him," she said.
Together the crowd of thousands bonded in their pain and grieved. They found strength and courage in one another.
According to the FBI (web), there were fatal crashes and on-the-job accidents, but of the 181 officers killed last year, more than half were killed by gunfire.
The ceremony included a laser light show, musical tributes and the lighting of candles.
Series of events have been planned in the Washington area, from May 11th to May 17th, to honor the service and sacrifice of more than 18,000 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in U.S. history.
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