WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) reminds police and other government agencies, businesses, and private citizens that all United States flags are to be flown at half-staff on Monday, May 15, "Peace Officers Memorial Day."

In 1994, the U.S. Congress and President Bill Clinton approved Public Law 103-322 authorizing the U.S. flag to be lowered to half-staff on May 15 as a special tribute honoring the thousands of American law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. The law was spearheaded by U.S. Rep. John Porter (R-IL) at the request of the NLEOMF.

This poignant and very rare tribute was part of the crime bill enacted into law that same year. The only other regularly scheduled time for flags to be lowered to half-staff occurs on Memorial Day, when we remember those killed in our armed services.

"Every 53 hours a law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty. Since the first recorded law enforcement officer death in 1792, more than 17,000 law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice," said Craig W. Floyd, NLEOMF Chairman. "Lowering the flags on Peace Officers Memorial Day is an appropriate way to show our respect for those officers who made the ultimate sacrifice and to remember the family, friends, and colleagues left behind."

The names of the 155 law enforcement officers killed in 2006, as well as 311 others killed in prior years, will be formally dedicated at the 2006 National Candlelight Vigil on the evening of Saturday, May 13 at 8:00 pm at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.