Dear Mr. Chairman, Madam Chairman and Representatives Graves and Webster,
The National Fraternal Order of Police will be hosting the 40th Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service on Saturday, 15 May 2021 and is once again requesting the use of the Capitol grounds for this purpose. This solemn event, which is usually attended by more than 25,000 officers, family members and friends, will be adapted to the current public safety and public heath guidelines and greatly limit in-person participants to protect everyone’s health and safety.
This year, more than five hundred Federal, State and local law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty will be honored at the Memorial Service. The number of officers on our Roll Call of Honor for this Service is historically large because we are recognizing the men and women who gave their lives in 2019, as we were unable to do so properly last year because of the pandemic, as well as the heroes we lost in 2020. This tragic number also includes those officers who were exposed and succumbed to COVID-19 or a related illness in the line of duty over the last two years.
The families left behind by these officers deserve the opportunity to come together, to share their grief, and to begin to heal with the rest of their law enforcement family.
To this end, we respectfully request the introduction of a Concurrent Resolution to permit the Fraternal Order of Police to use the Capitol Grounds for the purpose of staging and holding the Memorial Service. It is anticipated that set up will take place on Tuesday, 11 May 2021. We will begin to strike the event area at the conclusion of the Memorial Service, however, should we encounter any issues, the take down will be completed promptly on Sunday morning. We further request that the U.S. Capitol Police Honor Guard be permitted to display a Firing Party Salute to honor the brave men and women who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Due to the current pandemic, the FOP will implement the following safety and health restrictions for our Service:
- Attendance will be limited to 3500 participants.
- Every participant will be subjected to a temperature check.
- Every participant assigned to the dais will require a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the Service.
- Every participant will receive a health and safety kit, which includes a N95 facemask and hand sanitizer.
- ONLY immediate survivors and family members will be permitted to attend.
The Fraternal Order of Police and its Auxiliary will work closely with the U.S. Capitol Police and the U.S. Capitol Police Board to address all issues related to security and logistics.
On behalf of the more than 356,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I thank you for your many years of support for this event and hope we can count on all of you again. If you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President