Highly Decorated Rep. Brian Mast served in the U.S. Army for more than 12 years
Brian followed in his father’s footsteps by serving in the U.S. Army for more than 12 years, earning medals including The Bronze Star Medal, The Army Commendation Medal for Valor, The Purple Heart Medal, and The Defense Meritorious Service Medal. While deployed in Afghanistan, he worked as a bomb disposal expert under the elite Joint Special Operations Command. The last improvised explosive device that he found resulted in catastrophic injuries, which included the loss of both of his legs.
While lying in bed recovering at Walter Reed Medical Center, Brian’s father gave him advice that has stuck with him to this day–to ensure the greatest service he gave to our country and the best example he set for his children was still ahead of him. Brian took this advice to heart and dedicated himself to finding new ways to serve our country and his community.
Brian remained on active duty following the injuries and provided expertise to the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms during his recovery process. After his retirement from the Army, he continued working in counter-terrorism and national defense as an Explosive Specialist with the Department of Homeland Security. Brian subsequently received a degree from Harvard University and volunteered to serve alongside the Israel Defense Forces to show support for the freedom Israel represents throughout the Middle East and the world.
Rep Brian Mast is an ardent supporter of Law Enforcement. May 13 he wrote:
Last year, our community lost one of Florida’s finest, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Joseph Bullock. Trooper Bullock was fatally shot in the line of duty on February 5, 2020 while assisting a disabled vehicle in Martin County.
Trooper Bullock was incredibly well respected and took it upon himself to mentor younger troopers on the force. Anyone who knew him could attest to his kindness, compassion and dedication to service.
Trooper Bullock’s tragic death has left our entire community with a heavy heart. That’s why the House of Representatives passed my legislation to honor Trooper Bullocks’ life by renaming the Postal Service facility in Port Salerno as the “Joseph Bullock Post Office Building.”
Every day, law enforcement officials like Trooper Bullock put their lives on the line to enforce the rule of law and serve justice around our communities, which is why this week I helped introduce legislation to recognize the week of May 9th to 15th as National Police Week.
Last year, 394 officers lost their lives in the line of duty. There are no words or actions that can pay the debt we each owe to these heroes and their families. Especially in the face of calls to defund the police, this National Police Week, we must honor those fallen heroes and recognize the service of police officers in our communities!
We honor our police who gave all with flag at half mast, Oops that was a glitch says White House
May 14:
President Biden: I call upon all Americans to display the flag of the United States at their homes and businesses on Armed Forces Day, and I urge citizens to learn more about military service by attending and participating in the local observances of the day.
Proclamation 10034 of May 15, 2020, is hereby superseded.
May 15:
Each day, America’s law enforcement officers pin on a badge and go to work — not knowing what the day will bring, and hoping to come home safely. With courage and dedication, they serve on the front lines of our communities, preserving public safety and responding to a wide range of daily challenges. On Peace Officers Memorial Day, and every day, we honor law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, and thank them and their families for their extraordinary sacrifice and service.
Our country asks a great deal of our federal, state, Tribal, and local law enforcement officers — and it is our responsibility to ensure that those who protect and serve us have the training and support they need to do their jobs safely. My Administration is committed to supporting our law enforcement agencies and officers, and making sure they have the resources, research tools, and funding they need to be safe, effective, trusted sources of protection in their communities. Today and each day, my thoughts and my sincere gratitude are with all those law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line.
May 7 Proclamation from the White House in full below tweet May 14.
:May 14: “ Earlier this week Joe Biden announced that flags would be flown at Half Staff tomorrow to honor the men & women in blue who died in the line of duty. Today he “Friday news dumped” that he’d changed his mind: in his opinion, they aren’t worthy of lowering the flags. Unacceptable!
Every day, we ask a great deal of the men and women of our Nation’s law enforcement agencies; from ensuring public safety, to serving as front-line workers, to responding to incidents involving domestic violence, substance use disorders, mental health challenges, and homelessness, often with limited resources. Every morning, our Nation’s law enforcement officers pin on a badge and go to work, not knowing what the day will bring, and hoping to come home safely. This year, even as the COVID-19 pandemic took a physical, mental, and emotional toll, our officers, deputies, and troopers demonstrated courage and dedication in continuing to support our communities. As we recognize Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week, we honor those who lost their lives in the line of duty, and thank them on behalf of this grateful Nation for their service.
The economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic has strained State, local, and Tribal budgets — forcing many communities to stretch their funding, consider layoffs, and reduce public services. My Administration will support our Nation’s law enforcement agencies and officers and work to ensure they have the resources and research tools they need to do their jobs successfully and the funding necessary to enhance officer safety and wellness, including improving access to mental health services. We will also continue to bolster initiatives that protect our law enforcement officers’ physical safety — including those that provide for bulletproof vests and active shooter training.
This year, we also recognize that in many of our communities, especially Black and brown communities, there is a deep sense of distrust towards law enforcement; a distrust that has been exacerbated by the recent deaths of several Black and brown people at the hands of law enforcement. These deaths have resulted in a profound fear, trauma, pain, and exhaustion for many Black and brown Americans, and the resulting breakdown in trust between law enforcement and the communities they have sworn to protect and serve ultimately makes officers’ jobs harder and more dangerous as well. In order to rebuild that trust, our State, local, and Federal Government and law enforcement agencies must protect constitutional rights, ensure accountability for misconduct, and embrace policing that reflects community values and ensures community safety. These approaches benefit those who wear the badge and those who count on their protection.
We must also stop tasking law enforcement with problems that are far beyond their jurisdictions. From providing emergency health care to resolving school discipline issues, our communities rely on the police to perform services that often should be the duty of other institutions. We then accuse the police of failure when responsibility lies with public policy choices they did not make. Supporting our law enforcement officers requires that we invest in underfunded public systems that provide health care, counseling, housing, education, and other social services.
There are many ways we can demonstrate appreciation for our law enforcement heroes. We recognize acts of bravery through the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor and the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery. We must also acknowledge the challenge and value of their service through the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act of 2017 and the Supporting and Treating Officers in Crisis Act of 2019. Should tragedy strike, Public Safety Officers’ benefits must be available for the families of officers who lose their lives or are catastrophically injured in the line of duty.
This country asks much of our Federal, State, Tribal, and local police officers and deputies, and it is our solemn responsibility to ensure that those who protect and serve have the training, resources, and support they need to do their jobs well. My Administration will do everything we can to support the men and women who so courageously protect us.
By a joint resolution approved October 1, 1962, as amended (76 Stat. 676), and by Public Law 103-322, as amended (36 U.S.C. 136-137), the President has been authorized and requested to designate May 15 of each year as “Peace Officers Memorial Day” and the week in which it falls as “Police Week.”
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 15, 2021, as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 9 through May 15, 2021, as Police Week. I call upon all Americans to observe these events with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I further encourage all Americans to display the flag from their homes and businesses on that day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.