In week 2 you load up on academy busses and go into DC for the LEO Memorial as a class. The trip starts in the late afternoon around rush hour so the National Park Police provide motorcycle escorts for the three bus convoy. You will think you are the President. These guys do a fantastic job with the escort, just watch the video below. It starts as soon as we get into DC and their patrol cars pick us up crossing over the Potomac River. In the video we go past the Washington Monument and White House.
Once at the memorial you have a brief ceremony honoring our fallen brothers and sisters. Each class member has a chance to read three names of fallen officers they knew or from their agency. It is very moving to see how many classmates know fallen officers. After the ceremony you get about 45 minutes to walk around the memorial and take it all in... all the names ... all the officers who have given their lives. It is all there including spots saved for future names, very real.
Probably the saddest part are the letters and notes. You may see letters and notes from children or spouses of fallen officers written to their parent who died in the line of duty and never came home that day. The notes are by their names on the wall on the memorial and others are at the gift shop area. I guess it helps give closure to families and I can understand, but it is very sad to think a child placed that there for their parent.
After it is over you load up and are escorted back out of DC all the way to Quantico. Check out this night time video escort below. It goes thru a tunnel and onto I-95. You get back to the Academy around 8:00 pm, go to bed, and start the next day. This is all just one of many NA experiences you will not get anywhere else or again. It is worth remembering.