The Blossomland Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 100 will host the annual Police Officer Memorial Day program at noon on Thursday, May 18, at the Berrien County Law Enforcement Memorial, located at the south end of Lake Bluff Park in St. Joseph.

The Police Memorial Day service honors those who died on duty serving the residents of Berrien County. This year, two additional names will be honored, Joe Zangaro and Ron Kienzle, both Berrien County Court Bailiffs who were killed July 11, 2016.   

The local service also remembers two former Berrien County residents who were killed in the line of duty.      

This year’s speaker is Michigan State Police Capt. Carl Bassett of the Chaplains Corp for the State Police.    

Families of those who are being honored are encouraged to attend, as they will have an opportunity to participate in the service by laying a flower on the memorial as their loved one’s name is called. Law Enforcement Departments of those who are remembered will also participate in this service.

The Berrien County Law Enforcement Memorial was developed by all four Fraternal Order of Police Lodges in our County. 

Also participating in the service will be the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard and officers from area departments who will make up the FOP Lodge 100 Rifle Squad. 

Lake Boulevard in St. Joseph will be closed from Pearl to Park St. from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. to accommodate the ceremony.      

The public is invited and encouraged to attend.