Hundreds gathered at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. just after noon on Tuesday to pray for fallen officers during the annual Blue Mass.
Cardinal Donald Wuerl presided over the Mass, which included an honor guard, bagpipers and the playing of "Taps" in honor of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
The Blue Mass -- which gets its name from the color of most officers' uniforms -- began in 1934, when law enforcement officers gathered to pray for their fallen comrades.
The tradition ceased in the mid-1970s but has since resumed in grand fashion.
The mass is held at the beginning of National Police Week each year.
Officer.com will be covering all of the events leading up to and during National Police Week, which runs from May 12-18.
