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America's Law Enforcement Heroes Saluted This Sunday During NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Dover International Speedway

Posted on: Thursday, 28 May 2009, 09:01 CDT

Pre-race ceremonies to remember fallen officers; driver Jeff Gordon features National Law Enforcement Museum on his No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet

WASHINGTON, May 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- America's law enforcement officers will be saluted, and those killed in the line of duty remembered, this Sunday, May 31, at Dover International Speedway during the "Autism Speaks 400, presented by Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips & Cheese" NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the track widely known as the Monster Mile.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090112/DC57979LOGO)

As part of its law enforcement appreciation day, Dover International Speedway is teaming up with the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund to raise awareness of the service and sacrifice of our nation's law enforcement officers and raise money for the NLEOMF. In addition, driver Jeff Gordon is showing his support for law enforcement through a special message on his No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, as well as public service announcements encouraging NASCAR fans to honor our men and women in blue.

"Day in and day out, our dedicated law enforcement officers put their lives on the line for the safety and protection of others. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is honored to partner with Dover International Speedway to raise awareness of the work our law enforcement officers do on behalf of NASCAR fans, their families and all Americans," said NLEOMF Chairman Craig W. Floyd.

Pre-race ceremonies include a moment of silence in honor of the 18,661 law enforcement officers nationwide - 33 from the state of Delaware - who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. Their names are engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. Dover Motorsports is also presenting a check to the NLEOMF, the non-profit's proceeds from a special promotion offered to members of the law enforcement community for Sunday's race.

More than 500 law enforcement officers, family members and supporters are expected at the race. They will be treated to trackside tours and a special pre-race hospitality tent, with Greg Biffle, driver of the No. 16 3M Scotchlite Ford, and Jeff Burton, driver of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, scheduled to address the fans.

During the race, Jeff Gordon honors America's law enforcement heroes by showing his support for the National Law Enforcement Museum. The rear TV panel on his No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet is carrying a banner featuring the Museum's website, www.PoliceMuseum.org.

In addition, Mr. Gordon filmed two public service announcements encouraging fans to support the NLEOMF's efforts to honor law enforcement. The PSAs, along with other public address announcements honoring law enforcement, are scheduled to be played throughout the race weekend at Dover International Speedway. (View the Jeff Gordon PSAs on the Memorial Fund's YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF.)

Founded in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a private non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers and promoting officer safety. The NLEOMF maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., which contains the names of all peace officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history.

The Memorial Fund is now working to create the first-ever National Law Enforcement Museum, a 55,000 square foot, mostly underground museum to be located in the nation's capital. Authorized by Congress in the year 2000, the Museum will tell the story of American law enforcement through high-tech, interactive exhibitions, historical artifacts, an extensive media collection and comprehensive educational programming.

Groundbreaking for the Museum is scheduled for the fall of 2010, with a projected opening in mid-2013. The privately funded Museum has launched an $80 million capital campaign, with more than $37 million raised to date. Former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton serve as co-chairs of the Museum's National Honorary Campaign Committee.

For more information about the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and its Museum project, visit www.LawMemorial.org.

CONTACT: Kevin Morison (202) 737-7134, (202) 288-7029 kevin@nleomf.org

SOURCE National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Source: PR Newswire

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