WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18), on Jan. 6, 2017, sent a letter to President Barack Obama requesting that the White House be lit blue today in recognition of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

“Shining a blue light on the White House for a day is a powerful symbol of unified support behind police officers and national leadership toward mending public trust,” Rep. Mast wrote in the letter.

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day takes place each year on Jan. 9 to show law enforcement officers that citizens recognize the difficult career of public service that law enforcement officers have chosen to undertake.

“An expression of support by the President would serve as a powerful symbol of encouragement to the thousands of law enforcement professionals who daily risk their lives for their fellow citizens,” Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said.

The full text of the letter is below:

January 6, 2017

President of the United States of America
White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

It is with great respect for police officers across our country, and in recognition of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, I request that you light the White House blue on January 9, 2017. Our nation has experienced four tumultuous years of tragic and divisive incidents that left a chasm in the minds of many Americans between peace officers and the citizenry they protect. The complexity and gravity of these incidents ought not be taken lightly, but must not be allowed to cast a disproportionate shadow over the selflessness of officers who risk their lives every day to assure the safety of their neighbors. As you wrote in an open letter to the law enforcement community last year, “as we bind up our wounds, we must come together to ensure that those who try to divide us do not succeed.” Shining blue light on the White House for a day is a powerful symbol of unified support behind police officers and national leadership toward mending public trust.

Last year marked the highest number of law enforcement casualties in the past five years. The law enforcement community lost 140 of their brothers and sisters in the line of duty. My State of Florida endured the untimely deaths of five officers who began a shift to protect and serve their neighbors, but never returned safely home. We mourn for their families and celebrate the lives of the officers, but it would be a monumental statement of national unity to collectively honor their profession at the White House on Monday.

Thank you for your consideration of this request to paint the White House in blue light for National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. It is a modest but potent symbol of our country’s enduring will to reconcile that which would seek to wrongfully divide us and a national expression of our gratitude to each law enforcement officer.

Sincerely,

Brian Mast
Member of Congress

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