The Signature
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Final Guardmount Ceremony U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Joshua Coté
By Staff Sgt. Kaylee Peterson
U.S. Air Force 7th Reconnaissance Squadron
National Police Week has been celebrated ever since 1962, when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation that designated May 15th as Peace Officers’ Memorial Day and the week in which that day falls National Police Week. Throughout the country, cities host events to honor law enforcement officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. For the second year in a row, National Police Week was celebrated at Naval Air Station Sigonella May 10-15. Security forces from the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron at Sigonella again spearheaded the planning efforts and infused elements of Air Force culture into each of the week’s events. “National Police Week was a great opportunity for law enforcement officers from all of the U. S. and Italian military services and civilian agencies to come together to compete in fun physical challenges, build camaraderie, and honor those who have fallen in the line of duty,” said 7th Reconnaissance Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Del Rivera. “The bonds we’ve forged this weekwill go a long way towards strengthening security.” The week kicked off with a Fallen
Defender 5K May 10. Participants ran in honor of law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. The following day at Marinai Housing, the community was treated to demonstrations from Sigonella’s vast array of force protection units from both nations and across services. Carabinieri of the Cacciatori di Sicilia helicopter squadron, the Italian Air Force, the U.S. Navy K-9 unit, the U.S. Air Force, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service all provided demonstrations that showcased the breadth of local law enforcement capabilities. Attendees saw military working dogs in action, weapons and EOD demonstrations, and the “red man suit” demonstration allowed children to practice their strikes on the padded role-player. The third event was a grueling 10K ruck march held May 13. Teams carried a 35-pound pack during the length of the course, symbolizing the load that the fallen officers can no longer carry. The May 14 “Battle of the Badges” event was a great opportunity for friendly competition between Sigonella’s various force protection agencies. Teams competed in four different events including an obstacle course, a relay race, a High Mobility Multiple Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HUMMWV) push,
and tug of war. After a hard battle, the Air Force Security Forces team took home the trophy for the second time. Police Week ended with a Final Guardmount ceremony. “Guardmount” is a formation that law enforcement officers attend before posting out for shift. Roll call is conducted to ensure that each member is accounted for. During a Final Guardmount, the name of the individual who is no longer with us is called, and a moment of silence is recognized for them. At Sigonella’s ceremony, a moment of silence was conducted for each branch of the military and civilian law enforcement officers to honor defenders who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. NAS Sigonella Security Officer Lt. Cdr. Allen Richmond, who was the ceremony’s guest speaker, shared inspirational words about the vast duties and responsibilities all law enforcement officers. Invoking the words of President Barack Obama, Richmond reminded everyone of the character engrained in each officer. “We hold up those who wear the badge as heroes,” said Richmond. “Though they too often spend their days witnessing American at its worst, in their extraordinary examples, we see America at its best.”
