Quote of the week: "Thank you" - Survivors, friends, bystanders & random people on the metro
A candlelight vigil was held at the National Law Enforcement Memorial on Saturday night. Friends from the ride encouraged me to volunteer for escort duty, telling me it would be the best and hardest part of the week. They were right.
National Park Service Color GuardOff the last bus stepped a young girl, maybe 3, her face was frozen and she looked totally overwhelmed. She was given a rose and clutched a single penny in her right hand. As we walked between the rows of Officers she didn't look around or say much when I talked to her. As we reached the seats, I handed her off to her mother, who replied with "Thank you."
During the vigil, a special tribute was paid to Fairfax County Police Detective Vicky Armel whose memorial service was Saturday morning. Detective Armel was killed in a gun battle in the Police station parking lot on May 8. Officer Michael Garbarino was critically injured in the same attack. News of Det. Armel's death reached the riders at the Candlelight vigil in Florham Park before we left, much like the news of Denver Police Detective Donny Young's death reached the send off ceremony in 2005. During the vigil ceremony, Craig Floyd reminded us that a police officer is killed in the United States on average once every 53 hours. Five Officers lost their lives in the line of duty since I started my trip from New Jersey to Washington DC. - Update - While at the United ticket counter, getting ready to fly home, I learned about the 6th line of duty death during my trip. Although he appeared to be improving, Officer Michael Garbarino died in the early hours of May 17th.
1 comment:
I read this post, and it made me really sad ... and I can see how much it must have affected you to walk by that little girls side and know the loss she has endured but I also know that the penny she had in hand was giving her comfort that perhaps no living person could. I was given a poem after my Aunt Carol died unexpectedly in her sleep ... and I never pass a penny on the ground anymore.
Here's the poem:
"I found a penny today
just laying on the ground.
But it's not just a penny,
this little coin I've found.
Found pennies come from heaven,
that's what my Grandpa told me.
Grandpa said, Angels always toss them down.
Oh, how I loved that story.
He said when an Angel misses you,
they toss a penny down..
Sometimes just to cheer you up,
and make a smile out of your frown.
So don't just pass by that penny
when you're feeling blue.
It may be a penny from heaven,
that an Angel's tossed to you".
Jenny, you were in my thoughts all last week and I am so proud of your contributions to this cause. You really are a special person.
From a momentarily un-viper like viper squad member.
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