WASHINGTON — The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. remembered Indiana law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty Wednesday during a virtual candlelight vigil.
A total of 307 names are being added to the memorial this year, bringing the total of names to more than 22,000.
The vigil, held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is held during National Police Week.
Indiana State Police Trooper Peter Richard Stephan and Rising Sun Police Department Officer David Paul Hewitt, who both died in the line of duty, were honored during the virtual vigil.
Stephan's name will be added to panel 61 and line E:31 and Hewitt's name will be added to panel 52 and line E:31.
Stacy Allan, the wife of Southport Police Department Lt. Aaron Allan, was featured during the virtual vigil.
Lt. Aaron Allan was shot and killed while helping a driver after a single-car crash. His name was previously added to the wall.
"Getting to D.C. and seeing the wall for the first time was extremely emotional, extremely hard" Stacy said. "I mean that was the love of my life and yet now I see his name in stone."
Stacy says seeing the wall for the first time was very overwhelming, but it also reminder her she wasn't alone.
"Those letters don't just make up a name. It makes up a person that was stolen from this world way too soon," Stacy said. " And he is missed, dearly, everyday."
You can light a virtual candle here.
