F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- The Mighty Ninety honored law enforcement May 23-26 with a number of events for a Police Week recognition on F.E. Warren Air Force Base.
While Police Week is typically the week before, Code Change operations forced a change in the dates of celebration on base.
The event started with an opening ceremony, presided over by Col. Robert Ford, commander of the 90th Security Forces Group.
“Police Week is a way for law enforcement agencies to recognize commitment and service to the communities in which they live,” said Ford. “They have a vested interest in taking care of those communities, their fellow citizens and critical establishments where their families grow.”
The second day consisted of a 5k ruck march where troops ran in honor of fallen and current defenders, often carrying ruck kits in excess of 35 lbs.
The third day of recognition was marked with a softball tournament, where Airman 1st Class Kenny Shaw from the 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron won the home run derby and the Convoy Response Force won the team trophy.
The last day brought a somber end to the week’s events, with a final guardmount remembrance ceremony at the Pronghorn Lounge, where fallen defenders were named and remembered.
“We stand on the shoulders of giants and a reminder that we have the watch,” said Chief Master Sgt. Charles Flainagain, 90 SFG senior enlisted leader. “There have been 107 police officer deaths in 2022 and 25,784 to date. We recognize these numbers because of the dedication and the ultimate sacrifice these heroes demonstrated for our public safety.”
The recognition of defenders and other law enforcement entities during the police week carries much more emotional weight than ceremonies and softball tournaments, as the base honors those who put themselves in harm’s way for the safety of their fellow citizen.
“The acknowledgment of Police Week in 1962 was also about recognizing something deeply embedded in the individual who takes on the burden of service of law enforcement as a career,” said Ford. “Think about the courage it takes to commit one’s life to the profession of policing – when everyone else is trained to run away from the sound of gun fire, the defender will run toward it.”