National Police Week occurs every May, but like almost everything else, the COVID-19 pandemic has limited or changed activities honoring officers during 2020 and 2021.

This week, according to the National Law Enforcement organization’s (www.nleomf.org) website, virtual events were on tap from Monday through today, including an online candlelight vigil that was held Thursday evening. Also online were ceremonies to honor those fallen officers whose names have been recently added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum.

The website states that in-person events are planned Oct. 13-17, 2021, in the nation’s capital “to offer the same respect honor remembrance and community support as National Police Week.”

David Leo, the father of slain Girard officer Justin Leo, who died on Oct. 21, 2017, in the line of duty while answering a domestic call, said he and his wife Pat are not planning a trip to Washington, D.C., this year.

“This year, many of the police week activities have been moved to fall to try and stay ahead of COVID-19,” David Leo said. “We will return (to D.C.) at some future time because we have met so many of the families (of other fallen police officers) and learned their stories.”

Later this month, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Youngstown is offering a special Mass at 10 a.m. May 27 to honor area police officers. All police personnel are invited to gather at the church about 9:45 a.m. in full uniform to partake in the service.

In the fall while D.C. is planning in-person police salutes, the Leos said they are planning to attend a parent survivor conference in Little Rock, Ark., “to be with our friends that we share a common bond.”

As for observing National Peace Officers Memorial Day today, David Leo said he and his wife will meet with members of the Girard Police Department for a private moment at Justin’s grave.

“We will cry and laugh and put up his bronze marker that contains the thin blue line flag,” David Leo said, noting the marker will be left at the gravesite until the end of the watch day on Oct. 21.

Leo said he hopes respect for police officers can return to society.

“Our culture today obviously does not value police. While there are valid reasons for some of this, most police were like Justin and wanted to serve their communities with pride,” David Leo said. “As I’ve learned so many stories about fallen officers, if you change the name and the picture, they all are like Justin.”

Participating in a public safety event at a Liberty school Thursday, township police Chief Toby Meloro said he believes police officers need to interact with community members in non-criminal activities, especially those events involving children.

“We need to show the kids that we really are nice people,” Meloro said. “I believe we need to protect and serve our children because they are our community’s most precious commodity.”

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Howland, on Wednesday delivered a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives in honor of law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

“Those of us here in Congress know well the bravery and dedication of law enforcement officers, for we saw it first-hand on January 6th when they protected this citadel of democracy and the public servants who were discharging their duty,” Ryan said.

Ryan also noted four Ohio police officers who died in the line of duty during the past year: James Michael Skernivitz of Cleveland, Adam McMillan of Hamilton County, Kaia Lafay Grant of Springdale and Anthony Hussein Dia of Toledo. Ryan also paid homage to Summit County police officer Rex Faux, who died in 1933, but whose name had not previously been added to the memorial list.

Meanwhile, the Leos said they are busy keeping Justin’s memory alive with the Justin Leo Scholarship Foundation. Recently, they presented four scholarships worth $5,000 each to Girard High School seniors Bella Alejars, Nick Cario, Emily Fitzgerald and Krissa Kadel.

“These four were tasked with keeping Justin’s legacy of community service and ‘paying it forward’ alive for future generations,” David Leo said.

In the past four years, the Justin Leo Foundation has totaled $80,000 in scholarship as well as an additional $225,000 to the YSU Foundation with preference given to Girard High graduates, Leo said.

The Foundation’s primary fundraiser is a run that this year is again virtual. Participants can run, walk, hike, swim 5K, 75 miles or 324 miles between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The registration fee is $25 or $30 if participants want their T-shirt mailed. More information can be found at the The Justin Leo Virtual Run Challenge site on Facebook.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com