Candlelight Vigil for Fallen Officers Was Moving Tribute

Last week Sgt. Vickie Warehime of the Baltimore County Police Department rode 320 miles in the Police Unity Tour 2011, representing the late Sgt. Bruce Prothero.

And this weekend was the culmination of that event: the Candlelight Vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial grounds, where police/cyclists escorted family members of fallen officers to the memorial.

U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. led the lighting of candles and reading of the fallen officers’ names, according to a news release from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

"Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Linda Moon-Gregory, national president of the Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), also participated in the annual tribute to officers who have died in the line of duty, a special part of the National Police Week observance in the nation’s capital," it states.

Each May 13, as part of National Police Week, the newly engraved names of officers killed in the line of duty are read aloud and formally dedicated on the National Memorial during the Candlelight Vigil, according to the release.

"[About] 20,000 people attend the ceremony in person each year, including surviving family members, friends, law enforcement colleagues and others," it states.

Warehime sent photos and text messages to Pikesville Patch throughout the ride. While she described the four-day tour as emotionally moving, helping survivors of fallen officers during the vigil on the fifth day, May 14, was especially important, she said.

"To have the honor of escorting a survivor is the greatest part of being a Unity Tour rider," Warehime said.

"One of my survivors was the sister of a Richmond police officer. Her brother was part of their dive team and drowned during a training exercise. Her hand was shaking as I held it tight to calm her down.

"This was her first time at the memorial as he had recently passed. She brought her son and husband with her.

"Another family I escorted lost their son-in-law. She pointed to two young children and said they were now raising them as the wife was at such a loss. She actually thanked me for escorting her.

"I told her it was an honor to do this and we will always be there for her. We continued escorting survivors for three hours.

"With that said I want to thank Janet (of Pikesville Patch) for posting the pictures and promoting the Police Unity Tour. Because of people like you, we raised $1.6 million dollars for the care and maintenance of the memorial.

"Last year each name was re-engraved and the memorial cleaned—a total cost of $1.2 million dollars.

"Thank you for all of your support. I look forward to riding again next year."

The eight fallen Baltimore County Police Department officers were honored last week, National Police Week, during the Unity Tour, by motorcyclists and volunteers in Law Ride 2011, and during a ceremony at the county memorial in Towson.

Here are the eight officers, in the history of the department, who have died in the line of duty or while serving county residents, according to a news release from the department:

Officer Edward Kuznar

Officer Charles Huckeba 

Corporal Samuel Snyder

Officer Robert Zimmerman

Sergeant Bruce Prothero

Officer John Stem

Sergeant Mark Parry

Lieutenant Michael Howe

Read more about the Police Unity Tour 2011:

• Thursday, May 12: Cyclists, Now 1,200 Strong, Ride into National Memorial in D.C.

• Wednesday, May 11: 
• Tuesday, May 10: Second Day of Cycling—160 Miles so Far—Is Complete

• Monday, May 9: 
• To read about the event before it started, visit: 
• Cyclists aren't the only bikers honoring fallen officers during national Police Week: