I went to a funeral today. The man who passed was a local police officer and died while riding his motorcycle through the mountains of eastern Tennessee. By all accounts he was a good man, a loving father, and a decorated patrolman. He was known as the “Gentle Giant” to many of his fellow officers and, in a touching eulogy, his daughter spoke of his tender love for her and his dislike for her growing up.
He received full honors at the church – a color guard, honor guards, and hundreds of uniformed officers including the sheriff himself. After the service his casket was placed in the hearse and then escorted to the cemetery by motorcycle officers and patrol cars all with lights flashing and sirens wailing. Traffic was stopped on the road to his final resting place in both directions and at every cross street by what seemed a full regiment of police from numerous surrounding cities and counties. There was bagpiper playing Danny Boy and Amazing Grace, a trumpeter playing Taps, a 21-gun salute, a funeral drummer, and a folded flag. At the end of the service, the officer’s final call went out over the radio, three attention tones and then, “Attention all personnel; at 11:52 hours, August 23, 2006, Officer Carlos Suarez was laid to rest…”
There wasn’t a dry eye in attendance.
A hero had fallen.
Our children have very few heroes these days. Many, in troubled cities across America, see the police as the enemy, as people they should run from. This is a fatal flaw in our society, it is the fault of parents who choose not to teach their children respect for the law and for the police. It is the fault of our schools and our clergy for not teaching strict adherence to the law. And it is the fault of our government, our elected officials for not enacting tough, no-nonsense laws and then giving law enforcement the ability to hold criminals to them.
Our children need heroes. They need to see that the police, firefighters, and military personnel are no less than that. These men and women leave their homes with full knowledge that any day could bring an end to them. They understand and accept the risks of the jobs they do because they exist to serve their fellow mankind. We need to teach our children to respect these brave men and women and to hold them in the highest of esteem. Parents must begin this lesson, schools must continue and expand upon the lessons, and our elected officials must set examples beyond reproach.
I am the son of a fallen hero. My father passed away 25 years ago this week. He was a firefighter, a husband, and a father. He was my personal hero and shall always remain that. Today, I was reminded of how important he was to me and to everyone he touched. Today he has another comrade joining him, another man who touched many and should be remembered for all time as a hero.
Take a moment today to remember all our fallen heroes, pray for their families. And take the time to thank them for what they do. The next time you see an police officer thank him or her for the job he or she does, stop at a fire house just to thank the firefighters, and spent a minute with the next member of our military that you see, tell them all that you appreciate the sacrifices they have made. Tell them you think they are all heroes.
He received full honors at the church – a color guard, honor guards, and hundreds of uniformed officers including the sheriff himself. After the service his casket was placed in the hearse and then escorted to the cemetery by motorcycle officers and patrol cars all with lights flashing and sirens wailing. Traffic was stopped on the road to his final resting place in both directions and at every cross street by what seemed a full regiment of police from numerous surrounding cities and counties. There was bagpiper playing Danny Boy and Amazing Grace, a trumpeter playing Taps, a 21-gun salute, a funeral drummer, and a folded flag. At the end of the service, the officer’s final call went out over the radio, three attention tones and then, “Attention all personnel; at 11:52 hours, August 23, 2006, Officer Carlos Suarez was laid to rest…”
There wasn’t a dry eye in attendance.
A hero had fallen.
Our children have very few heroes these days. Many, in troubled cities across America, see the police as the enemy, as people they should run from. This is a fatal flaw in our society, it is the fault of parents who choose not to teach their children respect for the law and for the police. It is the fault of our schools and our clergy for not teaching strict adherence to the law. And it is the fault of our government, our elected officials for not enacting tough, no-nonsense laws and then giving law enforcement the ability to hold criminals to them.
Our children need heroes. They need to see that the police, firefighters, and military personnel are no less than that. These men and women leave their homes with full knowledge that any day could bring an end to them. They understand and accept the risks of the jobs they do because they exist to serve their fellow mankind. We need to teach our children to respect these brave men and women and to hold them in the highest of esteem. Parents must begin this lesson, schools must continue and expand upon the lessons, and our elected officials must set examples beyond reproach.
I am the son of a fallen hero. My father passed away 25 years ago this week. He was a firefighter, a husband, and a father. He was my personal hero and shall always remain that. Today, I was reminded of how important he was to me and to everyone he touched. Today he has another comrade joining him, another man who touched many and should be remembered for all time as a hero.
Take a moment today to remember all our fallen heroes, pray for their families. And take the time to thank them for what they do. The next time you see an police officer thank him or her for the job he or she does, stop at a fire house just to thank the firefighters, and spent a minute with the next member of our military that you see, tell them all that you appreciate the sacrifices they have made. Tell them you think they are all heroes.
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