Law Enforcement Officers (LEO) Weekend kicked off its 2022 Lake George event Friday evening with a parade up Canada Street and opening ceremonies in Shepard Park. “To all of you that are here, all of you that marched, all of the law enforcement people that are here for the weekend,” says Village of Lake George Mayor Robert Blais in opening remarks, “an official welcome to Lake George. We’re so proud of you, and we’re honored that you chose to come back to Lake George.”
LEO Weekend is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit that brings the families of injured and fallen law enforcement officers to different weekend get-aways throughout the country with the motto “Bringing your blood & blue families together.” The first LEO Weekend was held in 2017 and the event returned for 2018 and 2019. The pandemic forced cancellation in 2020 and 2021. This year’s event brought 150 LEOs to Lake George.
Founder Austin Glickman explains the organization’s genesis:
“Back in 2014, I was a police cadet, or police recruit, in the NYPD Police Academy. Three weeks prior to my graduation, Officers (Wenjian) Liu and (Rafael) Ramos were assassinated in Brooklyn. They were assassinated just because of the uniform that they wore. They were eating lunch in their car when a gunman came up to their car and shot them at point-blank for no apparent reason. So, three weeks prior to my graduation, I had to deal with that.
“… I’m standing in Madison Square Garden getting ready to walk across the stage to graduate and instead of throwing our gloves in the air and our hats in the air and confetti coming down as the newest police officers with the NYPD, instead we did a final salute on the jumbotron to the two heroes that we just lost just a few days prior. It was a really somber moment.
“… just a few days later, I was up here in Lake George visiting for the first time ever, and I met this great gentleman behind me, Mayor Bob Blais. Bob took me on a boat cruise. As we’re driving around the lake, I see fire trucks from across the Hudson Valley and I say ‘Hey Bob, what’s this about? What’s all these firetrucks about?’ He says, ‘Well, it’s the firefighter’s convention that goes every other year here in Lake George.’ I said, ‘Would you ever consider doing a law enforcement event?’ and he said ‘Of course.”
Since its launch, LEO Weekend has grown, says Glickman. “We now offer 14 events throughout the year. We do events, of course here in Lake George, Long Beach, New York, Miami, and soon-to-be Vail, Colorado and Houston, Texas. We’ve helped 45 families from 22 different departments from 13 different states flying them in again from across the country, paying all their expenses, putting them up in hotels and the only reason we’re able to do that is because we do fundraising.” Those who wish to support the LEO Weekend mission were encouraged to purchase available raffle and 50/50 tickets. Donations may also be made through the organization’s website.
The Friday evening ceremonies opened with an Honor Guard and a performance by the Yankee Doodle Band of the Fort Craico American Legion Post 471 . Rev. Kim Osorio, VP of Operations, New York State Chaplain Task Force, told of the special meaning the event has for her. “Officer Ramos, he was one of our students. He was scheduled to graduate from our organization on the day on which he was assassinated. On his graduation, we received a message. So, that just makes me even more proud and honored to be here with all of you.”
Chaplain Lisa Woititz gave the blessing, saying, “Our compassionate God of loving kindness, as we gather here this afternoon under your infinite sky and before your majestic waters, we praise you for all you have created and all you have done for us for so lovingly and intentionally bringing us to this weekend of unity and respite for our brothers and sisters in blue and their families.”
New York State Assemblyman Matt Simpson and New York State Senator Dan Stec both spoke of their family connections to law enforcement and their support for law enforcement officers through their work as state legislators.
Glickman presented the LEO Weekend’s 2022 Robert M. Blais Award for Excellence to the Lake George Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau. The award is presented each year to an individual or organization that “goes above and beyond” to support the mission of LEO Weekend.
The Opening Ceremonies were followed by a Fridays at the Lake concert featuring the Stony Creek Band and Alex Torres.
Photos: LEO Weekend Parade and Opening Ceremony
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