The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) held a somber ceremony Tuesday, May 1, 2018, honoring FLETC graduates who lost their lives in the performance of duty while protecting the communities they serve. Approximately 500 FLETC and Partner Organization staff, community members, congressional members and staffers, students, and family members attended the morning ceremony.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Honor Guard retire the colors at the annual FLETC Peace Officers Memorial Day Ceremony. Photo by Keith Gartman
Regrettably, this year, six names were engraved upon the FLETC Graduates Memorial, bringing the total to 225 since the establishment of FLETC in 1970. The agents honored today were – U.S. Marshals Service, Deputy Marshal Kenneth Doyle, 2017; U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent David J. Hoefler, 2017; U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol Agents, Rogelio Martinez and Isaac Morales, 2017; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent Alex Moran, 2017 and Immigration and Naturalization Service, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Lawrence B. Pierce, 1995.
Ceremony attendees remember the fallen by tracing names engraved on the FLETC Graduates Memorial for family members. Photo by Keith Gartman, FLETC POMD
FLETC Director Thomas J. Walters introduced the keynote speaker, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Chief John D. “Don” Fort and welcomed the full auditorium to the annual remembrance ceremony.
“To the family members of the fallen officers, I know there is not a day that goes by that you do not remember. Please know your loved ones were working for the greater good, and they made a difference,” said Walters. “As one united body, we honor them officially today to keep their memories alive, to pay tribute to them and others whose names are permanently carved on our memorial.”
Family of fallen are comforted by seeing the names of their loved ones on the FLETC Graduates Memorial. Photo by Keith Gartman, FLETC
The ceremony included a roll call of the honored FLETC Graduates read by current FLETC basic students. Glynn County Sheriff E. Neal Jump recited the area state and local honor roll, and a bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace” concluded the ceremony as wreaths were placed in front of the memorial.
“Today’s ceremony commemorates another year that has been distinguished by extraordinary achievements at all levels of law enforcement, but sadly has been marked by great tragedy and personal loss. Many of us know officers daily sacrifices and struggles, the long nights and early mornings, the missed holidays and birthdays. But most of us cannot fully appreciate the pain and loss suffered by the families of the fallen, or the tremendous strength, courage and grace they continue to exhibit in the face of tragedy,” said Chief Fort.
For further information and a full listing of the honorees on the FLETC Graduates Memorial, visit http://www.fletc.gov/about-fletc/fletc-graduates-memorial/
Christa Crawford Thompson
Communications Officer
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers Protocol and Communications Office
(912) 267-2913 (office)
(912) 506-3449 (cell)
(912) 267-2447 (main line)
Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/fletc Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/FLETC