A Dallas police officer picks up balloons and flowers July 11, 2016 in front of images of the five slain officers after a candlelight vigil at Dallas City Hall. A gunman shot and killed five police officers and wounded seven during a peaceful protest July 7, 2016 in downtown Dallas. A Weekend of Honor kicking off July 7 marks the one-year anniversary of the tragic shootings. (CNS photo/Carlo Allegri, Reuters)
A time of remembrance and reflection will commemorate the anniversary of one of Dallas’ darkest hours: the slaying of five police officers on July 7, 2016. The Weekend of Honor, an assortment of events marking the one-year anniversary of the downtown ambush shootings, kicks off July 7.
On that night a year ago, an otherwise peaceful rally became violent when a lone sniper took aim at law enforcement officers. The officers who died that day were Sr. Cpl. Lorne Ahrens, 48, Dallas police; officer Michael Krol, 40, Dallas police; Sgt. Michael Smith, 55, Dallas police; officer Patrick Zamarripa, 32, Dallas police; and Brent Thompson, 43, DART police.
The Weekend of Honor will include:
July 7: Tribute 7/7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Dallas City Hall Plaza.
July 8: Races to honor the slain and wounded police officers; an attempt to break the world record for longest chain of people making heart-shaped hand gestures; and an awards ceremony for volunteers in North Texas.
July 9: A ceremony honoring recipients of the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award. This year’s group includes officers killed across the country last year in the line of duty.
For more information on the Weekend of Honor, including how to volunteer or donate, visit https://www.weekendofhonor.com/.
Find more about those officers who lost their lives on July 7, 2016 in The Texas Catholic’s award-winning PORTRAITS OF COURAGE.
