On Tuesday, I took the opportunity to view the 3½-hour procession preceding the memorial for the four slain Lakewood police officers.

Supporters and well-wishers of the families and law enforcement in general lined Steilacoom Boulevard and South Tacoma Way, waving flags, holding up banners, some just standing at solemn attention saluting those passing by.

I was impressed with the parents who took their children out of school, the Cub Scout and Boy Scout leaders who came to honor not just the fallen officers, but all who put their lives on the line.

I did not hear one person complain about the cold, nor did I hear a complaint about the traffic being impacted. But our remembrance of these four police officers and their families, as well as our remembrance of the Seattle police officer slain on Oct. 31, should not end here.

On the Christmas lights on City Hall, on the east end of the building, there are five sets of two blue bulbs. The lights represent the officer and their families of Lakewood Police Officers Sgt. Mark Renninger, Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold, Greg Richards and Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton.

I changed these lights to let our police officers know that we are with them. I changed these lights to remind us of the commitment every police officer makes every day and the prayers every day from their loved ones that the officer they love comes back to them that night.

For the remainder of this year, I am asking that citizens place a blue light in their windows or on their porches. I know that many radio stations have called for this, and I will state now it is not my idea, but it is something I will be doing myself. To remind me of how thankful I am for each of our police officers and for our great nation.

May God bless each of the slain officers and their families as well as the lives of every law enforcement officer, past and present and their families.

Pacific Mayor Richard Hildreth can be reached at 253-929-1100 or pacificmayor@aol.com.