Carbondale Reporter

In a May 15 Facebook post, Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg) honored the nation's fallen police officers.

“Today we pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who have given their lives in the line of duty,” he wrote on Facebook. “Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. Thank you to all who serve!”

Although National Peace Officers' Memorial Day is marked on May 15, in the State of Illinois, a memorial ceremony was held on May 4, in Springfield, and there were more than a dozen names that were added to the memorial list.

National Police Week dates back to 1962, when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. The Memorial Service began in 1982 as a gathering in Senate Park of approximately 120 survivors and supporters of law enforcement. Decades later, the event, more commonly known as National Police Week, has grown to a series of events which attracts thousands of survivors and law enforcement officers to our Nation's Capital each year.

On May 12, President Biden issued a proclamation focusing on Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week, 2023. In part, it read: “As a Nation, we expect a lot from our law enforcement officers. They save lives by keeping our roads, subways, and highways safe and responding to domestic violence incidents and natural disasters. We ask them to ensure public safety, build trust within our neighborhoods, and protect the well-being of our communities. Too often, they are also called upon to respond to mass shootings, drug overdoses, mental health crises, and more. Being a law enforcement officer is not just what they do; it is who they are. The same is true for their families, who sacrifice alongside these heroic Americans. It takes a special person to marry or be the child of a law enforcement officer — knowing the uncertainty as their loved one walks out the door and dreading the possibility of receiving that phone call. No memorial can ever fill the void left in the hearts of those who have lost a loved one in the line of duty. But their sacrifices in full service to their communities and to our Nation will never be forgotten. We will continue to honor their memories with actions that help keep our law enforcement officers and communities safe from harm. 

"At the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C., there is a quote engraved on the wall that reads, “It is not how these officers died that made them heroes, it is how they lived.” Today, during this week, and year-round, we express our gratitude for the courageous women and men of our Nation’s law enforcement community. We honor the memory of the members who made the ultimate sacrifice and pray for their families. And we recommit ourselves to the sacred task of creating a safer and more just Nation for all Americans."

Windhorst was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018. His legislative experience includes serving on the Restorative Justice Committee, and the Judiciary - Criminal Committee. Windhorst resides in Metropolis.