Cops Alive | Police Stress and Health - Career Survival

Let your blue lights shine for law enforcement during the holidays

For the past 21 years, Concerns of Police Survivors has asked law enforcement families, surviving families, and police supporters to burn a blue light in their windows during the holiday season. The blue light is symbolic of our remembrance of those officers who have made the supreme sacrifice and honors those officers who continue to work the violent streets of our nation.

The idea began in 1988 when Mrs. Dolly Craig wrote to C.O.P.S. that she would be putting two blue candles in her living room window that holiday season. One for her son-in-law, Daniel Gleason, who had been killed… in the line of duty while serving the Philadelphia (PA) Police Department on June 5, 1986, and one for her daughter and Danny’s wife, Pam, who had been killed in an automobile accident in August 1988. Danny and Pam had 6 children. Dolly Craig is now deceased as well, but her idea is her legacy. Project Blue Light now burns bright in the hearts of the nearly 15,000 surviving families of America’s fallen law enforcement officers during the holiday season.

“Everyone who appreciates law enforcement should get involved with Project Blue Light,” said Jennifer Thacker, C.O.P.S. President, “Project Blue Light allows citizens to show support for local law enforcement and the heroes who have been killed in the line of duty.” Project Blue Light is a simple gesture; during the holidays decorate with blue lights or simply insert a single blue bulb in the candle stick replicas that adorn many windows in homes or businesses.  C.O.P.S. also encourages law enforcement agencies to decorate the precinct stations and headquarters in blue lights.

The color blue is symbolic of peace. By displaying blue lights in your holiday decorations, you will be sending a dual message – that you support America’s peacekeepers and that you hope the coming year will be a year of peace.

Learn more about the good works of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) at:
http://www.nationalcops.org/