Flags Fly at Half-Staff for Peace Officers Memorial Day

American flags across the nation flew at half-staff Friday in observance of Peace Officers Memorial Day, an annual tribute to law enforcement officers who have died or been injured in the line of duty. President Trump signed a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week of May 10 through May 16 as Police Week.

The proclamation called on all Americans to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. The order to fly flags at half-staff stems from a joint resolution approved by Congress on Oct. 1, 1962. That resolution authorized and requested the president to designate May 15 of each year as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the surrounding week as Police Week.

Flags are to be displayed at half-staff from sunrise to sunset.

This year’s events included the 38th Annual Candlelight Vigil, the 30th anniversary of the Police Unity Tour and the National Police K-9 Memorial Service. These drew law enforcement members, survivors and supporters to the nation’s capital throughout the week.

More than 300 names of fallen law enforcement officers were read during the 38th Annual Candlelight Vigil on the National Mall in Washington. That total included 109 officers killed in the line of duty last year. Friday’s capstone event was the 45th Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service, sponsored by the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police and its auxiliary.

The ceremony on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol honored officers who recently died in the line of duty and paid tribute to all fallen officers. Honor guard teams stood 15-minute watch shifts over memorial wreaths at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial through midnight.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is adding 363 names to the memorial this year. Those include 109 officers who died in 2025 and 254 from earlier years. The additions bring the total to 24,775 names from across all states, U.S. territories and law enforcement agencies.

Governors in multiple states issued orders to lower state flags at all state facilities to half-staff from sunrise to sunset Friday. Officials in Virginia issued a similar order.