# Gov. Beshear Orders State Flags Lowered for Peace Officers Memorial Day  
**Published:** 2026-05-14T17:41:40.000Z  
**Source:** [Office of the Governor](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&prId=2754)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/gov-beshear-orders-state-flags-lowered-for-peace-officers-memorial-day

Gov. Andy Beshear has ordered the American flag to be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings on Friday, May 15, in observance of [Peace Officers Memorial Day](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&prId=2754), according to a statement from his office.

[Peace Officers Memorial Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Officers_Memorial_Day), observed annually on May 15, honors [federal, state and local officers killed or disabled in the line of duty](https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/peace-officers-memorial-day). This year's observance falls during National Police Week, which runs from May 10 through May 16.

The tradition of honoring fallen peace officers dates back decades. [In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Officers_Memorial_Day), and nearly two decades later, [Congress authorized the flag to be flown at half-staff on the date](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Officers_Memorial_Day).

Across Kentucky, law enforcement agencies are conducting their own memorial observances this week. [Kentucky State Police posts have scheduled wreath presentations at burial sites of fallen troopers](https://www.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov/news/p4-5-11-2026-2), while [Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources will hold a memorial ceremony on May 18 to honor game wardens who have died in the line of duty](https://fw.ky.gov/News/Pages/Ceremony-scheduled-to-honor-Kentuckys-fallen-game-wardens-2026.aspx).

[Kentucky's Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation maintains a statewide monument listing the names of every known fallen law enforcement officer in the state's history](https://klemf.org/). [The monument now lists 599 men and women heroes who have died in the line of duty since 1845](https://www.docjt.ky.gov/news/2025/6/5/gov-beshear-honors-10-fallen-law-enforcement-officers-at-annual-kentucky-law-enforcement-memorial-foundation-ceremony).

Citizens and organizations are encouraged to lower their own flags to half-staff in solidarity with the fallen and their families on Peace Officers Memorial Day.

## Sources

- [Office of the Governor](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&prId=2754)
- [Peace Officers Memorial Day information](https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/peace-officers-memorial-day)
- [Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation](https://klemf.org/)

---

This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Office of the Governor, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&prId=2754.