The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial may not be as well known as the World War II or Vietnam War memorials on the National Mall, but the oval shaped memorial still keeps up with modern times and appearances.
Just a couple blocks north, off the beaten path of the National Mall, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial can be reached from the Red line train station at Judiciary Square or visitors can drive to the 400 block of E Street.
The memorial itself features a beautiful scene of two curving, 304-foot gray-blue marble walls, complete with patches of grass and rows of tall green trees. The marble rows also feature lions protecting their cubs, a representation of police serving and protecting their communities.
The marble walls bear more than 20,267 police names that date all the way back to 1791.
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Best time to visit: Between April and May, more than 10,000 brightly colored daffodils bloom at the monument. Combined with the greenery from the trees, the monument would be best appreciated on a sunny day.
Ceremonies: The ceremony that takes place on the night of May 13 is the biggest event the memorial holds. Around 20,000 people attend the Annual Candlelight Vigil to recognize the sacrifices of police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. New names are then added to the wall.
Other attractions: Two blocks west is the memorial's visitors' center, which showcases an exhibit filled with 9/11 artifacts, and a gift shop.
Future attractions: Building permits have been approved for a National Law Enforcement Museum underground near the monument but funding is still being secured for the project. Museum directors hope to open the museum doors in about three years,
Time Warner Cable News reported.
Honorable mentions: The memorial showcases the names of many brave officers, but among some of the most famous are J.D. Tippit, who was gunned down by Lee Harvey Oswald after shooting John F. Kennedy; numerous victims of Billy The Kid, including James W. Bell and Robert Beckwith; and 72 men and women who lost their lives during 9/11.
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