Sacrifice Honored: Captain Richard Cashin Added to National Law Enforcement Memorial

The name of Massachusetts State Police Captain Richard J. Cashin was added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., in May. Members of Captain Cashin's family, Colonel Marian J. McGovern, Deputy Superintendent Stephen P. Matthews, and Lieutenant Colonel Timothy P. Alben, as well as a State Police Color Guard, all seen in the photo at left, attended the ceremonies, which included a candlelight vigil and an address by President Obama. Captain Cashin's name was carved in a marble wall at the memorial, seen, with his prayer card, in the photo above.

The memorial honors centuries of law enforcement service and sacrifice. It includes, in addition to the walls bearing the names of nearly 19,000 slain law enforcement officers, landscaped gardens, tree-lined "pathways of remembrance," and a statuary grouping of an adult lion protecting its cubs - a symbol of the protective role of police officers. Carved under the lions are various quotes, including this one from former President George H.W. Bush: "Carved on these walls is the story of America, of a continuing quest to preserve both democracy and decency, and to protect a national treasure that we call the American dream."

Captain Cashin died in the line of duty on January 28, 2009 when his cruiser crashed on Route 1 in Saugus as he was trying to catch up to an erratic driver.

For more on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, visit its Web site at http://www.nleomf.org/memorial/.