The Healing Power of Police Week: A Family's Journey After Line-of-Duty Death (Part 2)

When an officer falls, the badge never forgets.

In this powerful conclusion to Officer Harold Vitale's story, his brother Les reveals how a family transformed unbearable grief into an extraordinary legacy that has raised over $1 million for law enforcement causes.

After losing their brother in 1985, the Vitale family's first visit to National Police Week in Washington DC became the catalyst for decades of service. Overwhelmed by the support they received from fellow officers and survivors, they committed to creating something meaningful in Harold's name. What began as a simple road race evolved into a foundation that has provided nearly 200 scholarships and supports multiple police memorials and survivor organizations.

For almost 40 years, "Vitale Pride" has lived on through their annual golf tournament, which not only honors Harold but celebrates other fallen officers by bringing their families together and commissioning portraits of their loved ones.

This episode and many others can be watch on our YouTube Channel, or listened to at: HeroesBehindtheBadgePodcast.org

KEY MOMENTS:

33:20 - The transformative experience at Police Week that changed everything
46:15 - How the memorial golf tournament evolved to raise over $1 million
49:25 - The foundation's work honoring multiple fallen officers each year
53:10 - The Art Victorious memorial statue and its meaning
57:30 - The foundation's website and ongoing mission

"You never overcome this... but doing something positive has been the source of healing." - Les Vitale

Visit VitaleMemorialFund.org to join the community supporting the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.