For any American family, a trip to Washington DC is filled with the touristy attractions: The Smithsonian Family of Museums, the capitol, a glimpse of the White House, and of course visiting the multitude of memorials scattered throughout the Capital City for the United States.
In May of this year, we took a five day trip to Washington DC. We had a long list of sights to see. 
However, for our family, especially my husband, the trip had a purpose: the National Law Enforcement Memorial. We went to Washington during National Police Week. My husband had completed a three-day run from Philadelphia to Washington DC. For the kids and me, our first day was devoted to attending the arrival of the runners in the afternoon, and attending the candlelight vigil in the evening as the list of names added to the wall were read aloud.
The memorial is a peaceful place, with its horseshoe design and sculpted lions. But it’s also an emotional spot for some of the visitors. Like the other memorials in Washington DC, the names on the wall represent people they knew and loved. I honestly doubt the Law Enforcement Memorial is on the top of the list for most visitors, but for a police officer, or police spouse, it’s a must.
For those with no association with police families, you might ask why time, money, and space was devoted to a memorial for people who didn’t serve as leaders – and didn’t die in a war. But for police officers, they know there is a war they fight daily – on the streets of every town in the United States.
For the families of 145 police officers, in 2003 they learned that fact the hard way.
Links:
National Law Enforcement Memorial
Official Tourism Site for Washington DC