Annual Ceremony

Every year we stage an annual memorial ceremony to commemorate Montgomery County’s fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice—what Abraham Lincoln called “the last full measure of devotion”—while protecting the people of this county.

It’s always held on the first Friday in May, when this county’s 33 law enforcement agencies come together to honor and commemorate their own.

The event includes a procession with a combined agency Motorcycle Unit, a combined agency Color Guard, an Honor Guard, a massed Pipe & Drum Corps, uniformed and retired officers, and family and coworker survivors.

The ceremony observes such sacred military and law enforcement traditions as the Presentation of the Colors, Riderless Horse, American flag folding, 21-gun Salute, and Taps.

The Keynote Address is followed by the Survivor Speech. Then comes the Officer Roll Call—when the fallen officer’s names, agencies, and end of watch dates are read—and their family and coworker survivors come forward to place carnations into a symbolic wreath.

During the ceremony we also present the winners of that year’s college scholarships, which is another way we help preserve the legacies of the fallen.