Supporters of all ages will gather outside of the Ferris Library for Information,
Technology and Education (FLITE) on Tuesday, May 10 at 9 a.m. for Ferris State University’s
13th annual Police Memorial ceremony.
Ferris’ Director of Public Safety Bruce Borkovich said that as part of the ceremony, a Mecosta-Osceola Career Center student will speak at the event. Borkovich and Joy Paquette, MOCC public safety instructor, will review essays that were presented for consideration, and select a student to speak.
“Every year, many in the crowd are from area schools,” Borkovich said. “If classes were in session at that time on our campus, it would be an even bigger event. It’s not just Ferris’ police department taking part, as all aspects of the operation, and our university support the program and attend the event.”
Officers representing local, county, state and federal departments will join Ferris’ contingent at the memorial. The traditional program includes an honor guard, a 21-gun salute, the playing of “Taps,” lowering the U.S. flag and the placement of a wreath.
President John F. Kennedy created National Peace Officers Memorial Day in 1962 by proclamation, with May 15 designated as the day of remembrance. Ferris and its local law enforcement partners are among several groups holding police memorial ceremonies prior to National Police Week 2016, which is May 15-21.
The FLITE building is located at 1010 Campus Drive in Big Rapids. The annual event is free and open to the public, with an opportunity to meet with officers in an adjacent parking lot following the event.
More information is available by calling the university’s Department of Public Safety at (231) 591-5000.
PHOTO CAPTION: The 13th annual Police Memorial ceremony will be held outside Ferris
State University’s FLITE building Tuesday morning, May 10. During the 2015 Police
Memorial, area State Police troopers presented a commemorative wreath.