SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 11, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The TASER Foundation for Fallen Officers' third annual "Drive to Remember" will conclude in Washington, DC on Wednesday, May 13, 2009, as the Guardian One completes its 5,100 mile journey to memorialize the 141 men and women of law enforcement officers who gave their lives in the line of duty during 2008 in Canada and the United States.
Guardian One, the Hummer(r) H3 used for the "Drive", will arrive at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial at 4:00 p.m. EDT on May 13. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial (NLEOM) is located on F Street, NW, between 4th and 5th Streets.
The drivers of Guardian One's "Drive to Remember" are Vancouver Police Department Sgt. Steve Gibson and Craig Prystay. They will be joined at the NLEOM arrival event by Country Music Artist and TASER Foundation board member, Mark Wills; American Gladiators Don "Wolf" Yates and Valerie "Siren" Waugaman; and TASER Foundation CEO Kathy Hanrahan.
Guardian One displays the names of each officer killed in the line of duty in 2008. Signatures and messages of the officers' loved ones have been added to Guardian One during its cross county "Drive". The special Hummer also displays an inspirational letter written by Allison Eales to her father, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper David "Rocky" Eales which became the motivation for the "Drive to Remember." In her letter to her father, Allison thanks him for teaching her courage even through his death, and expresses her pride that he knew the difference between right and wrong and sadly gave the ultimate sacrifice trying to do what was right.
"Allison's words speak profoundly of the service law enforcement officers provide to our communities, and it brought to light the need to educate the American public on how vital these officers are to our safety," said Sgt. Steve Gibson, a co-founder for the event.
"We share this sentiment with officers across the country," said Kathy Hanrahan, CEO for the TASER Foundation. "The TASER Foundation makes this journey each year to ensure our communities remember the fallen heroes, and the lengths law enforcement officers will go to protect what is right and what is just. Our hope is that the Drive to Remember will unite communities to honor law enforcement officers for their service, and remember the sacrifices made to keep us safe."
A New York Police Department officer recently added the following words to the "Drive To Remember" on-line guestbook:
"Too often, society forgets the SUPREME SACRIFICES made by our Brothers and Sisters. Too often have I personally attended Inspectors Funerals for fallen officers who went WAY BEFORE THEIR TIME, and who I personally had the honor of knowing and working with. Hopefully, the "DRIVE TO REMEMBER" will remind EVERYONE why we still live in a free society. Our WORLD'S GREATEST MILITARY protects us from our enemies on the outside, WORLD'S GREATEST POLICE OFFICERS protect us from the ENEMY WITHIN. NEVER FORGET THEM!!"
The Guardian One Hummer will be on display for the remainder of National Police Week at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #1 located at 200 K Street Northwest.
For more information regarding the TASER Foundation go to www.TASERFoundation.org.
For information and the route of the 2009 "Drive to Remember" go to www.salutehonor.org.
About the TASER Foundation
The TASER Foundation distributes financial memorial grants to the families of fallen officers in the United States and Canada through donations and an initial endowment of $1,000,000. Over half of the initial endowment came in direct contribution from TASER International (Nasdaq:TASR) employees with the balance contributed by the company. Onetime grants are available only upon request by chiefs of police and sheriffs as well as federal law enforcement executives in the name of sworn officers killed in the line of duty since August 1, 2004. The TASER Foundation's mission is to honour the service and sacrifice of local and federal law enforcement officers in the United States and Canada lost in the line of duty by providing financial support to their families. TASER International bears all of the administrative costs of the TASER Foundation in order to ensure 100 percent of all donations are distributed to the families of fallen officers. For further information contact Kathy Hanrahan, President and CEO of the TASER Foundation at Kathy@TASER.com or call 800-978-2737, extension 2012. Visit the TASER Foundation website at www.TASERFoundation.org for facts and video.
The TASER International logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2931