As Police Week comes to a close, we take a look back what now symbolizes the ride into the week of honor and remembrance.

The Police Unity Tour, known as the “ride for those who died” reached its Washington D.C. culminating destination at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on May 12.

The bike ride, which spans more than 200 miles for Chapter 10, which is the Monmouth County Officers’ group, began in 1997 with 18 riders, and was designed to inspire “public awareness of of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty and (to) honor their sacrifices” and raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum at the D.C. destination.

The Unity Tour usually raises tens of millions of dollars. Nearly 20,000 officers who died in the line of duty are memorialized at the Washington site.

Area officers joined in the honorary bike trek this year as they have in years before.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day offers a glimpse back to Unity Tours of the recent past — a few years ago.

Kudos to all who participated this year!

And to all our community police officers, “Thank you for protecting and serving us!”

Have you thanked a police officer today?

— Photos/courtesy of Fair Haven Mayor Ben Lucarelli, Fair Haven Police Cpl. John Waltz and FHPD