Earlier this week I found myself standing on the side of the road, hand on my heart, tears running down my face, staring in awe at yet another funeral procession for my state’s most recent fallen hero.
I didn’t know exactly why I felt the need to be there.
I had gone days before to his police department to pay my respects. His patrol vehicle was parked in front of the building and was barely visible, covered in mounds of floral bouquets left by those paying their respects. A carved wooden cross sat near the SUV with the officer’s name engraved across it. Candles were lit along the pavement and left near crayon artwork given by children. Even with light traffic on the street and several people milling around, it was silent other than the sounds of a few whispered prayers.
Again, I can’t fully explain exactly why I felt the need to be there.
I didn’t know this man. I don’t know his wife, family members, or even his friends. I don’t know anyone that works for his department.
But still I went…and what I did eventually find was a sense of community on the road this morning. Hundreds gathered together to honor a man none of us knew…forever grateful for his service and his family’s sacrifice.
I don’t think there’s a LEOW that doesn’t for a split second put themselves in the shoes of the officer’s widow when a line of duty death occurs close to home. What would we do? Where would we turn? Who would help us? While we truly don’t want to ever know the raw pain or panic she experiences, we allow ourselves to go there, even if just for a brief moment in our minds. The possibility of our LEO not coming home is a real fear that we live with daily, but can’t allow to take over our lives. We have children to care for, dinner to place on the table, jobs to go to, and lives to live.
Maybe that’s what brought you here now. You may not know exactly how you found yourself on this page or in this group, but I hope you’ll discover a sense of community, belonging, and support. So…as police wives, together, we will face another shift. Another good-bye kiss. Another, “I love you, see you in the morning,” as he walks out the door. We walk in faith and in the knowledge that God has a plan for our lives. We walk knowing He is in control. We pray for protection and we hold fast to the truth that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power and love (2 Timothy 1:7).
l Sandee l