Hundreds of law enforcement officers and supporters gathered in St. Patrick Church in Northwest Washington, DC, on Tuesday, May 8, to remember and pray for officers killed in the line of duty over the past year. The 13th Annual Blue Mass marked the first official event of National Police Week 2007.

In his homily, Archbishop of Washington Donald W. Wuerl emphasized law enforcement's longstanding role as peace makers. Quoting from the Bible, he reminded the assembled that "Blessed are the peace makers, for they are the children of God." DC Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier, US Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan, and James DiGregory, First Vice President of the DC Fire Fighters Burn Foundation, delivered scripture readings. Sterling Spangler, President of the Washington, DC, Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors (DC-COPS) read the names of 23 fallen officers from DC, Maryland and Virginia who died in the line of duty in 2006, as well as a fallen federal agent from 2003.

Prior to the Mass, Honor Guards from 14 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in the DC area processed outside the church under a huge American flag hung across G Street, NW, by the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department. The Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, Firefighters of Washington, DC, provided musical backdrop.

The current Blue Mass actually continues a tradition that flourished at St. Patrick Church, in a slightly different form, from 1934 to 1975. During those years, police officers would congregate annually to pray for their comrades who fell in the line of duty and to ask God's continued blessing for their own safety. The name of the Mass comes from the blue color of police officers' uniforms.

The 13th Annual Blue Mass Committee is co-chaired by William Lawler III, of Vinson & Elkins, and Terrance Gainer, US Senate Sergeant at Arms. Lynn Lyons-Wynne, Senior Director of Memorial Programs for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, also serves on the committee.