Ceremony Honors Local Officers Who Died In Line Of Duty

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It's an annual tradition, the Greater Pittsburgh Police Emerald Society pipe and drum band hold a ceremony to honor local police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.

"It's not everybody that goes to work in the morning with the possibility of not returning home because they were killed in the line of duty," said Donna Best with Presidential Law Enforecement Memorial.

The event at the Law Enforcement Memorial comforts families of fallen officers.

"They have a major loss and they have to spend the rest of their lives with that loss and learning to adjust and live with it," Best said.

Pittsburgh Police officer James Graff died in the line of duty from a heart attack in 1967.

"After all them years, in a way I'm happy, in another this should have been taken care of a long time ago " his wife Mary Graff said.

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"It's nice to know that police are still out there looking at these things and honoring those that should be honored," James Graff said.

Keynote speaker Kim Weigand founded the Pennsylvania chapter of C.O.P.S after her son was killed in the line of duty in 2008.

They provide immediate support to families of fallen officers .

"I can't stress how important it is to have someone whose been through what these families go through. Be with them, even if it's something just as simple as make sure they're getting something to eat or just sit silently with them and hold them and listen," said Weigand.

The names of 164 fallen officers were read as families placed a flower in an officers boot. Six canine officers were mentioned including Aren with the Port Authority who died from a stab wound.

"Please be safe and vigilant, with all the negativity that's out there today, please know you are loved," said Weigand.