The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund has issued a reminder to all police and other governmental agencies, as well as to businesses and private citizens across the country that all flags of the United States are to be flown at half-staff on May 15, "Peace Officers Memorial Day."

In 1994, the U.S. Congress and then President Bill Clinton approved the law, P.L. 103-322, requiring the American flag to be lowered to half-staff on May 15 as a special tribute to the more than 17,000 law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. The law was spearheaded by then-U.S. Rep. John Porter at the request of the Memorial Fund.

"This is one of the highest honors our nation can bestow upon anyone," observed Memorial Fund chairman Craig W. Floyd. "It is also an honor that is richly deserved. In 2001 228 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty, making it the deadliest year for the law enforcement profession since 1975. Included in this total are 70 officers who died at the World Trade Center on September 11, the most officers ever to be killed in a single incident in the history of our nation. When we lower our flags on Peace Officers Memorial Day we will be recognizing that those brave men and women died upholding our laws and preserving public safety."