Twenty Years of Remembering the Sacrifice and Celebrating the Service

On October 15, 1991, our nation honored the service and sacrifice of America’s law enforcement professionals with a national monument.  President George H.W. Bush was there that day to officially dedicate the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. 

More than 500 people recently gathered in the Nation’s Capital for a gala to celebrate the Memorial’s 20th anniversary.  Among the dignitaries and celebrities in attendance were:  Dinner Chairman and former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff; former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese; Acting ATF Director B. Todd Jones; U.S. Park Police Chief Teresa Chambers; Vincent D’Onofrio, long-time star of “Law and Order:  Criminal Intent;” and dinner emcee and current star of “Law and Order:  Special Victims Unit,” Richard Belzer.

Among the many highlights of the evening were video greetings and tributes from former President Bush and Clint Eastwood, the Honorary Chairman of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and the National Law Enforcement Museum.  The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund also presented their 2011 Distinguished Service Award to Dick Wolf, creator of the “Law and Order” television franchise.

GLOCK, the nation’s largest law enforcement handgun manufacturer, used the occasion to announce a $2 million gift to help build the National Law Enforcement Museum.  GLOCK has now become the fourth largest contributor to the Museum campaign and the tenth million dollar-plus contributor.  The capital campaign, entitled “A Matter of Honor,” has now raised more than $46 million to build the $80 million Museum.

Major sponsors of the 20th anniversary gala included Presenting Sponsor, Target; the Museum campaign’s First Founding Partner, Motorola Solutions; A&E Television; BAE Systems; Verizon Wireless; and the Police Unity Tour, which has contributed nearly $10 million to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund since 1997.  Pat Montuore, the founder and CEO of the Police Unity Tour, along with Barb Lyons, the mother of fallen Oregon State Trooper Scott Lyons, eloquently explained the origins of the bicycle ride and their own personal stories behind the Tour’s motto, “We Ride for Those Who Died.”

Among the many other survivors attending the gala was Pam Simms, a retired police lieutenant from the DC Metropolitan Police Department.  Pam has the unwanted distinction of having two loved ones honored on the Memorial—her husband, DC Metropolitan Police Officer Tony Simms, and her brother, DC Metropolitan Police Officer Tommy Hamlette. 

Vivian Eney Cross was also in attendance.  Her husband, Chris, was a U.S. Capitol Police Sergeant who was accidentally shot and killed during a training exercise.  It is Vivian’s oft-quoted inscription on the Memorial Wall that says, “It is not how these officers died that made them heroes, it is how they lived.”  Martha Wood was there, as well.  Her husband, Barry, was killed in a helicopter crash while serving with the Baltimore (MD) Police Department in 1998.  She now devotes much of her time to volunteering at the Memorial and related events in an effort to help other survivors.

While it was dedicated 20 years ago, the history of the Memorial dates back nearly four decades. In 1972, Detective Donald Guilfoil of the Suffok County (NY) Police Department first proposed the idea for a national memorial honoring fallen peace officers.  The cause was then championed by a Congressman from New York City named Mario Biaggi, who had served for 23 years as a New York City (NY) policeman, retiring in 1965 as the Department’s most decorated officer.  In 1984, the law he authored to establish the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial was passed by Congress and signed by President Ronald Reagan.  I was fortunate to serve as Congressman Biaggi’s Legislative Assistant for the first 10 years of my professional life, and it was 27 years ago that he appointed me to the position I am so privileged to hold today as CEO of the Memorial Fund.

That same year, 1984, a nonprofit organization—the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund—was formed to select a proper site and design for the Memorial, and raise all of the funds to complete the project.  Congressman Biaggi invited 15 national law enforcement organizations to sit on the Board of Directors, ensuring that this national memorial represented every officer, family member, and survivor of the fallen across America.

After more than two years of effort, Washington DC’s Judiciary Square was selected as the site for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.  Thanks to the brilliance of our Architect, Davis Buckley, and our sculptor, Ray Kaskey, a world-class design was soon approved that would turn an ill-kempt park into what is now the crown jewel in one of three major historical spaces in our nation’s capital.

One of the toughest challenges was locating the names that belonged on the Memorial walls.  The FBI had records dating back to 1961, but no one had ever documented all of the officers who had made the ultimate sacrifice throughout history.  We canvassed all of the more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide with multiple letters and phone calls.  The response was mixed—some had their doubts about our legitimacy.  To calm the skeptics, we sent a letter signed by the Attorney General of the United States, Dick Thornburgh, which convinced them all that this Memorial effort was indeed for real.

All that was left was the fundraising.  The Memorial cost $11 million to build.  Every cent came from private donations—no taxpayer money was ever used. When we dedicated the Memorial, all of the bills had been paid and we had incurred not a single dollar of debt.  More than a million citizens, along with corporate America, teamed up to ensure the Memorial became a reality. 

There are so many wonderful examples of the generosity that went into building the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.  The New York City PBA gave $500,000, more than any other single organization.  Corporate donors like DuPont, Mag Instrument, Ford Motor Company, and Motorola all gave similarly impressive amounts.  But no donation was any more generous than the elderly woman who sent in three 25-cent stamps—saying it was all she could afford, but she wanted to help build a monument for our officers. 

Ray Shinholser, a Jacksonville (FL) police officer and talented musician, recorded a song called, “When’s Daddy Coming Home?”  The plan was to sell copies to raise money for the Memorial.  The day after he finished the recording, Ray was killed while on duty in a motorcycle crash.  The song went on to raise more than $10,000 for the Memorial that now bears Ray Shinholser’s name.

Donna Lamonaco, a mother with three young children, had lost her husband, New Jersey State Trooper Phil Lamonaco, when he was shot to death during a traffic stop in 1981.  He was buried on Christmas Eve.  Donna agreed to tell her story in a letter we sent to thousands of Americans asking them to contribute to the Memorial Fund.  Her son, Michael, has followed in his father’s footsteps and is now a New Jersey State Trooper.

The groundbreaking for the Memorial occurred on October 30, 1989.  Two years later, it was dedicated.  More than 25,000 people showed up for the dedication ceremony, including President Bush and his wife, Barbara.  Leading up to the dedication, two young girls named Heather and Laura Phillips  had sold their toys and sent us a donation to help build the Memorial.  Their father, West Virginia State Trooper William Phillips, had been killed in the line of duty while on patrol in 1987.  They wanted to make sure their father was never forgotten.  So, on dedication day, it was Heather and Laura who were selected to greet President and Mrs. Bush with two red roses that were ceremoniously placed on the Memorial walls.  Heather and Laura honored us again with their presence at the 20th Anniversary Gala—and they did so proudly, knowing that their father, West Virginia Trooper William Phillips, has not been forgotten by the nation he loved and served.

Craig W. Floyd is chairman of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and is a regular contributor to AMERICAN POLICE BEAT.  Visit www.LawMemorial.org for more information about law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.