GLYNCO, GA –The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) Graduates Memorial Day Ceremony was held yesterday at FLETC’s headquarters. The annual ceremony honors fallen officers and agents who graduated from a FLETC basic training program and lost their lives in the line of duty.
The fallen were from multiple partner organizations, including the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations, Air and Marine Operations, and U.S. Border Patrol; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Marshals Service; and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
Acting FLETC Director Paul E. Baker, the keynote speaker, delivered a heartfelt statement, extending his deepest gratitude to the families and colleagues of the FLETC fallen graduates, emphasizing their sacrifice in protecting the American people.
“Today, we honor and remember the nine courageous individuals who have joined the ranks of the other 335 names memorialized here. Their legacy will continue to inspire and guide us as we strive to build a safer, more just society,” expressed Acting Director Baker. “These individuals served with honor and distinction, and their legacy is, has, and will forever be etched in our hearts as it is etched in the granite panels outside.”
The ceremony brought together family members, congressional representatives, friends, local law enforcement, FLETC agency partners, and FLETC staff to reflect on the enduring legacy of those whose names are now etched in stone. These heroes stood on the front lines of public service, and their dedication continues to inspire the law enforcement community nationwide. Today, Tomorrow, Forever - we will Never Forget.
Last month, the nine fallen were inscribed on the FLETC Graduates Memorial. The original Memorial was a three-paneled wall engraved with the names of 23 FLETC basic training graduates who made the ultimate sacrifice. Today, the wall bears the names of 344 fallen graduates since FLETC’s establishment in 1970.
A component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FLETC provides basic and career-long training to law enforcement professionals to help them fulfill their responsibilities safely and proficiently. Through strategic partnerships, FLETC prepares the federal law enforcement community to safeguard the American people, property, and institutions.
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