Community Corner

National Police Week 2013: 'We Ride for Those Who Died'

Some 1,700 people -- family, friends, policemen and policewomen -- arrive at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial by bike to join thousands of others honoring fallen officers in Washington, D.C.

Led by a caravan of motorcycle cops, an estimated 1,700 people arrived at the national police memorial on their bikes Sunday, part of a week-long series of events to honor more than 19,000 officers lost in the line of duty.

The motorcyclists and bicyclists rode beside each other and behind each other, into the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and between two 304-foot marble walls etched with the names of officers lost.

Among the 321 newly etched names for the 2013 ceremony was Woburn Police Officer John P. Gibbons III, who was killed in the line of duty on May 4, 1999, is among those who will be honored. His name freshly etched into one of the two 304-foot-long marble walls that are now part of the living National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

Find out what's happening in Woburnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Gibbons suffered a fatal heart attack after being kicked in the chest by a woman while responding to a disturbance call.

Middlesex County Correction Officer James Callahan, Sr., who was killed on August 24, 1973 due to a heart attack after being assaulted by an inmate, was also honored with his name on the wall.

Find out what's happening in Woburnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

321 Fallen Law Officers: 'Respect. Honor. Remember.'

National Police Week 2013 full schedule of events.

The "Unity Tour," as the ride into Washington has become known, started in 1997 as a way to raise money for the memorial, and officers have adopted the event's motto as, "We Ride for Those Who Died."

The event has raised more than $12 million.

For some idea of the scope of the ride, see this aerial video of the Unity Tour.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here