Project Blue Light Ceremony – Thursday November 18th at 5pm

Springfield, Mass. — The Springfield Police Department will hold a “Project Blue Light” Ceremony on Thursday November 18th at 5pm outside of Springfield Police Department Headquarters at 130 Pearl Street to remember and honor fallen officers.   Maura Schiavina, the sister of fallen Springfield Police Officer Michael Schiavina will be speaking on behalf of the surviving families.

“Project Blue Light remembers all officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice and in turn our survivors want to express their appreciation and support to our police officers during these trying times as we approach the holiday season and throughout the rest of the year to hope they return home safely at the end of each shift,” said Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno states, “We must always remember and never forget these brave, dedicated and compassionate police officers lost their lives in protecting a public in need.  Their families suffer every day, especially during the holidays with that empty chair at the table.  May God rest their souls and protect our ‘men and women in blue’ and their families too.”

Project Blue Light is a nationwide recognition of those Police Officers who have died in the line of duty.  It began in 1988 when the surviving mother-in-law of a Philadelphia Police Officer killed in the line of duty told Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) that she would put two blue lights in her window to remember her son-in-law and her daughter who was killed in a car crash.  “Project Blue Light” now burns bright in the hearts of nearly 15,000 surviving families of American’s fallen law enforcement officers.

Also on Thursday in honor of “Project Blue Light” Monarch Tower will be turning blue in honor of fallen Springfield Police Officers.  We thank and want to recognize Monarch Place and Paul Picknelly for this symbolic gesture.   We will be asking residents to place a blue light bulb on the porch or in a candle in their window to show their appreciation for police officers throughout the holiday season.

The ceremony is open to the public.