Law Enforcement Memorial Day Ceremony is Wednesday at Historic Courthouse

The Washington County Sheriff's Office will honor those who have fallen in the line of duty Wednesday, May 15 during the 19th annual Law Enforcement Memorial Day commemoration at the Washington County Historic Courthouse.

The event commemorates law enforcement and corrections officers who have died in the line of duty.

The event begins at noon, and includes music, a Memorial Ceremony and refreshments. The guest speaker is BCA Superintendent Wade Setter.

• Click here for more information about Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association

Each day, officers deal with the unknown, Washington County Sheriff Bill Hutton said during last year’s event, and each day they may meet a violent offender, or be injured in some way on the job.

"There is a story behind each one," Hutton said of the officers who are killed. At the same time, he said, they share a single story – they gave their all to their community.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy declared May 15 National Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the calendar week that has May 15 as National Police Week.

Fourteen years later, President Ronald Reagan created National Correctional Officers' Week. The first full week in May has since been recognized as National Correctional Officers' Week to honor the work of correctional officers and correctional personnel nationwide.