Page 43 - June 2017 Newsletter

The wall is inscribed with the names of the more than 20,000 law enforcement officers who have made the ulti- mate sacrifice.
“It is a day filled with sorrow and mourning as we re- member those men and women who laid down their lives for the communities they protected,” President Canter- bury noted.
Vice President Mike Pence, Attorney General Jeff Ses- sions and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly joined President Trump at the service, and the Vice President offered words of honor prior to Trump speaking. Linda Hennie, president of the FOP Auxiliary, began the service by describing the emotion that brought so many together on this day.
“Honor is a way of being,” Hennie asserted. “Honor is not a word the law enforcement community takes lightly, it’s about character. The courageous heroes we honor here today took seriously their obligation and responsibility to serve and protect. These 234 brave men and women gave their all. They laid down their lives to protect and serve the family, friends and co-workers and public, who are here today, to honor them.”
When President Trump stepped up to speak, he pre- sented a perspective that underscored all of his remarks. In addition to honoring the fallen, he wanted to reinforce his commitment to standing with the police.
“On this Peace Officers’ Memorial Day, we thank God for having blessed so many of us with such incredible he- roes, and we pledge our solidarity with their families and loved ones,” he preached.
“Because you do not hear it nearly enough, I want you to know that patriotic Americans of all backgrounds truly support and love our police.”
Applause erupted with every comment showing sup- port for law enforcement. But the President also wanted the families of the fallen to know the importance of the sacrifice their loved ones made.
“Though we cannot fathom the depths of your loss, nor fully appreciate the bond that forms in the precinct and between partners on the beat, your sadness is left and felt by all of us,” the President rallied. “Every drop of blood spilled from our heroes in blue is a wound inflicted upon the whole country. And every heartache known by your families in law enforcement is a sorrow shared by the en- tire family of the American nation.”
Trump also presented his take on what can be done to curb the violence against police officers, noting that it comes most, and most tragically, in communities where policing is reduced.
“We have all seen the tragic rise in violence and crimes in many of our disadvantaged communities,” he artic- ulated. “We’ve seen the unbearable horror of the short- comings in Baltimore and Chicago that have cut short so many lives and so many beautiful, beautiful dreams. We cannot stand for such violence. We cannot tolerate such pain. And we won’t.”
The crowd for the National Peace O cers Memorial Service approached nearly 30,000 people.
Well, he culminated the National Peace Officers Memo- rial service with a request that might be a start.
“To all Americans watching this event today,” he im- plored, “next time you see a cop on the beat, take a mo- ment to say two wonderful words, which they so readily deserve: Thank you.
“Thank you.”d
So, Mr. President, how do you do that?
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