Over twenty thousand people attended the memorial for the four police officers

[gateley]

were killed. Two thousand police cars traveled from the beginning to the Tacoma dome, and the route was lined with thousands more, holding signs that said "Thank You So Much" and with their hands over their hearts. It was in the mid-20's but people stood and waited for hours

300 police and fire departments took part, many on their own time, many on their own money.

This is the good that's in almost everyone. It shows that we're all really the same and we do care. If only we could all come together like this when there isn't a tragedy.

Local news sites if you're interested:

www.komonews.com

www.kirotv.com

www.king5.com

[proteus_lives]

1. RIP and Godspeed to those officers.

And Kudos to the people and the departments that came out to honor the fallen.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Thanks for sharing the fact that they got that many

people in uniform speaks to how people were horrified over this.

[gateley]

3. The majority of people were "just" citizens (I'm not sure I made that clear). Some

had traveled from neighboring states. I was just watching the recap on the local news which is what prompted my post. It was so moving -- so real.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. As a medic I got to go to a few funerals

two of them were people who died from old age, but still got a send off with full honors. One was also a vet of WW II, so the Mexican Army was also involved of course... (not too many of those in Mexico)

We got to bury a 19 year old EMT who was killed in a horrific traffic accident in the line of duty...

I count my blessings I never had to tell a significant other that their family member died in the line of duty. So in spirit I was there. But the number of both civies and uniformed personnel speaks volumes.

I was talking to a CHP officer the other day, and I can tell you that here in California, as far as you can get from Seattle, before crossing the border, officers were also horrified.

To the officers, a healthy salute and RIP. To the community, the healing has just started.

[gateley]

6. It is my hope that this tremendous outpouring brings some little comfort

to the families and law enforcement/public servants and the community. So much love and empathy and sympathy.

And it's also my hope that it has helped the "just citizens" to think about and appreciate these people who put their lives on the line FOR US.

[Tuvok Obama]

7. Not true. 20,000 were law enforcement officers. 3,000 were citizens (link)

The Tacoma Dome holds 23,000.

"The families of the Lakewood officers were joined by 20,000 law enforcement officers from across the country including New York, Boston, Chicago, California and Arizona. Nearly 2,000 Royal Canadian Mountain Police were also in attendance."

http://www.kirotv.com/news/21902332/detail.html

(There were far more than 3,000 citizens attending the memorial, but they were forced to do so in other locations, watching a live feed. Almost every attendee at the Tacoma Dome itself was a law enforcement officer.)

[gateley]

9. Wow -- I totally missed that when I was watching the coverage - thanks for clarifying! nt

[quiller4]

12. the 3,000 figure was civilians at the Dome. That doesn't include the

overflow at PLU or UW nor does it include the 4500 at Champions' Center.

[Tuvok Obama]

13. That's exactly what I said:

"There were far more than 3,000 citizens attending the memorial, but they were forced to do so in other locations, watching a live feed. Almost every attendee at the Tacoma Dome itself was a law enforcement officer."

[quiller4]

11. 20,000 is the number of law enforcement officers that filled the Tacoma Dome

Attending the broadcast of the memorial at remote viewing sites were another 23,000+ civilians. There were more than 15,000 at PLU alone.

[ribrepin]

5. The 1000 Canadian mounties were a magnificent sight in their red uniforms

It was a very moving ceremony.

I didn't see any representation from Arkansas. They didn't put a double murderer in the national date base when he jumped parole in Arkansas. The Tacoma police had stopped him for driving without a license and let him go because there was no hold on him. He went on to drive the get-away car.

[krispos42]

8. !

:patriot:

[Shell Beau]

10. I hope this somehow comforts the families involved.

RIP.