National Police Week 2026: Watch Candlelight Vigil Remembering Fallen Officers
The 38th Annual Candlelight Vigil on the National Mall honors fallen law enforcement members by reading the names of over 300 officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
An image gallery from National Police Week 2026 captures powerful displays from the D.C. memorial as officers and families honor the fallen.
Over 300 names of fallen law enforcement officers were read during the 38th Annual Candlelight Vigil on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
The ceremony included the names of 109 officers who were killed in the line of duty last year. The emotional event, which is the centerpiece of National Police Week activities in D.C.,drew thousands of people, who will light candles in honor of fallen officers.
The vigil will run from 8 to 10 p.m. (all times Eastern) and will be livestreamed on YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn.
National Police Week's history goes back to 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. The memorial service began in 1982 and its growth over the decades is bittersweet; while the outpouring of support is inspiring, it's still heartbreaking to see the number of fallen officers grow.
Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.
