Let me say upfront that we are grieved at the senseless loss of any life and our prayers and sympathies will remain with the family of Officer Widman and all officers killed in the line of duty.When I first read this story on the Tallahassee Democrat:
Officers' deaths affect TPD, LCSO Okaloosa deputy, Fort Myers officer slain in line of duty
I must admit to a bit of outrage at the attention they got as opposed to the attention a service man gets:
"Less than three hours before Widman was buried, more than 2,500 mourners attended a stirring ceremony at McGregor Baptist Church, where he was eulogized as "as a delightful young man who touched us all," by police Lt. Dennis Eads, one of six speakers at the 72-minute service."
"Rows of Fort Myers Police Department officers stood shoulder to shoulder from the church to a hearse about 100 yards away as fellow law enforcement agencies passed by and filled in behind them.
While most stood stone-faced, some wiped either tears or sweat from their eyes.
The only sound heard was a police helicopter hovering above."
At 12:24 p.m. police were given a signal and all put a hand on either their heart or to their head in a salute." Read the rest of the story by hitting the above link.
"He also thanked Southwest Florida for support as people donated money for the Widman family. He said his sister is in the process of setting up a trust fund for her three children."But then, as it is difficult to do at times, one has to step back and try to look at a situation objectively.
Though the concept of Brotherhood has taken beating in many circles, including the biker arena, it has not been lost among police officers. They can not be blamed for that. In fact, I will admit to being envious of it.
That the community turns out in mass to honor an officer who has fallen and not a serviceman, if not acceptable is at least understandable.
Police officers are not in a far off land where they can be forgotten about. They live daily lives in the community. Attend their churches and whatever other organizations they may belong to.
They have daily relationships here at home and do not have to rely on letters and the occasional phone call to remind people other than family that hey, "remember us".
Police officers do not die in the line of duty as often as soldiers. So when it does occur locally it is felt immediately. Not so with the soldiers who die in numbers reported daily on the news to the extent that we not only become inured to their deaths but come to expect them and go on about our daily business.
No, we can not blame the officers or the community for turning out for one of there own and should encourage it.
But what we must do is demand the same for those who are in those far off lands facing death and meeting it daily. Who, if they come home alive are home physically or emotionally scarred beyond repair. This we must do.
For if we do not honor them with equal if not more respect, if we do not parade them down main street to remind every father and mother of the insanities of war, then wars without just cause will continue be waged by politicians with no personal stake in them other than their re-electability and their pocket books.
Then, when the just war comes (it will, it always does) where we need every individual who can tote a gun to keep us free and the response is, "Hell no, I won't go". Look how you treated those who went before us. Look how soon you forgot their sacrifice. Look how quickly you turned your head the other way. Remember when you could not stop for 5 minutes to allow us to return home unimpeded.
You see soldiers also have a brotherhood. They also understand what is to lay their life on the line for you? God help us, if through our own disrespect, they abandon us or turn us. I for one would not blame them for a minute.
Brotherhood is earned not just by standing for your brother, but by suffering his pain with him.
Do not stand in the way of men who have learned that.Add to Technorati Favorites
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