Half-Mast Flags
During my morning walk, I noticed that flags were flying at half-mast. I didn't know the reason, and neither did anyone else I asked. Curiosity overcame me, so I called up someone sure to know what was going on-- Donna Bussell in the Mayor's office.
Donna explained that this week has been proclaimed as Police Week and flags are being flown half-mast statewide in memory of Law Enforcement officers who have fallen in the line of duty. In fact,she said in ten minutes a special memorial service was being held in the City Hall rotunda. I decided I could get there just in time...
It was a brief, poignant event, attended by many police officers, who ringed the second floor balcony, and by family members of police officers who sat in the audience. The names of Rochester officers who have died in service were read, indicating the circumstance. Photos of the fallen officers were displayed at the front of the room. (I took a photo of the photo display, above, but I am afraid I did not get a list of their names.)
Sheriff Steve Borchart remarked that while most of us get up every morning without a concern about dangers we will face at work that day, police officers get up each day prepared to face a life-threatening situation. They deal with the ugliest, meanest, most disturbing things human beings should not have to deal with. The stress takes a tremendous toll on their families, too, with a much higher-than-average divorce rate in police mariages. Every time a police officer's family hears a siren in the distance, they know that the person they love might be putting their life on the line.
Keeping order, safety and peace in our commmunity is a tough job, and we are lucky that we have so many brave souls dedicated to that objective. This week especially, let's make sure we tell our police officers "Thanks!"
