AND ALL EMERGENCY PERSONNEL
WORLDWIDE
If I knew it would be the last time, that I see you walk out the door. I would give you a hug and kiss, and call you back for one more.
If I knew it would be the last time, I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise. I would video tape each action and word, so I could play them back day after day.
If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute or two to stop and say.. "I love you," instead of assuming, you would KNOW I do.
If I knew it would be the last time, I would be there to share your day. Well I'm sure you'll have so many more, so I can let just this one slip away.
For surely there's always tomorrow, to make up for an oversight. We always get a second chance, to make everything right.
There will always be another day, to say our "I love yous," And certainly there's another chance to say our "Anything I can do's?"
But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get. I'd like to say how much I love you, and I hope we never forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike. Today may be the last chance you get, to hold your loved one tight.
So if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today. For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day.
That you didn't take that extra time, for a smile, a hug, or a kiss. You were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today, whisper in their ear, Tell them how much you love them, and that you'll always hold them dear,
Take time to say "I'm sorry," "please forgive me," "thank you" or "it's okay." And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today.
~ author unknown ~
By Sgt Les Langford
Utah Highway Patrol
It is the police officer - not the poet, who guards our freedom of speech.
It is the armed police officer, training in the use of deadly force, ready to defend the innocent against aggression and the weak against the violent, standing ready to serve and protect even with his life if necessary.
It is the police officer who preserves your rights to keep and bare arms. It is the police officer - not the politician, who insures freedom of assembly.
It is the police officer - not the campus organizer, who safeguards the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the police officer - not the defense attorney, who reads Miranda warnings and informs defendants of inalienable rights.
It is the police officer who is willing to disclose all evidence, even evidence which may weaken a case, in order to protect the innocent and insure that justice shall prevail.
It is the police officer - not the preacher, who safeguards our liberties, including freedom of religion.
It is the police officer - not the judges, who seeks out witnesses, thus preserving rights of the accused.
It is the police officer, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.
It is the police officer, who vigilantly serves the public, protecting society from evil, and preserving all our freedoms.
It is the police officer - not the reporter, who protects freedom of the press.
By Paul Harvey
Don't credit me with the mongrel prose: it has many parents-at least 420,000 of them: Policemen.
A Policeman is a composite of what all men are, mingling of a saint and sinner, dust and deity.
Gulled statistics wave the fan over the stinkers, underscore instances of dishonesty and brutality because they are "new". What they really mean is that they are exceptional, unusual, not commonplace.
Buried under the frost is the fact: Less than one-half of one percent of policemen misfit the uniform. That's a better average than you'd find among clergy!
What is a policeman made of? He, of all men, is once the most needed and the most unwanted. He's a strangely nameless creature who is "sir" to his face and "fuzz" to his back
He must be such a diplomat that he can settle differences between individuals so that each will think he won.
But...If the policeman is neat, he's conceited; if he's careless, he's a bum. If he's pleasant, he's flirting;if not, he's a grouch.
He must make an instant decision which would require months for a lawyer to make.
But...If he hurries, he's careless; if he's deliberate, he's lazy. He must be first to an accident and infallible with his diagnosis. He must be able to start breathing, stop bleeding, tie splints and, above all, be sure the victim goes home without a limp. Or expect to be sued.
The police officer must know every gun, draw on the run, and hit where it doesn't hurt.He must be able to whip two men twice his size and half his age without damaging his uniform and without being "brutal". If you hit him, he's a coward. If he hits you, he's a bully.
A policeman must know everything-and not tell. He must know where all the sin is and not partake.
A policeman must, from a single strand of hair, be able to describe the crime, the weapon and the criminal- and tell you where the criminal is hiding.
But...If he catches the criminal, he's lucky; if he doesn't, he's a dunce. If he gets promoted, he has political pull; if he doesn't, he's a dullard. The policeman must chase a bum lead to a dead-end, stake out ten nights to tag one witness who saw it happen-but refused to remember.
The policeman must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy and a gentleman.
And, of course, he'd have to be genius....For he will have to feed a family on a policeman's salary.
By Desire'e L. Cerqua
Middleton,Massachusetts
Taillights out of sight.
Surronded in steel,
steering the wheel,
he's off into the night.
Lights of blue
the chase is you.
Close inbound
or out of town,
he's off into the night.
When duty calls he'll go
in rain,sleet and snow.
When passions flare,
he'll be right there,
he's off into the night.
An opened door
to somebody's store,
it's the law to abide no
unauthorized entry inside,
he's off into the night
God bless these men
for bravery,
and then
someone spits in thier face
with no concern or disgrace,
he's off into the night
He's off into the night.
Chosen as a semifinalist by
"The International Society of Poets"
By Michelle Page
12-10-96
I saw five chariots rolling across the sky tonite
Driven by five warriors
Knowledge,Wisdom,Courage,Strength,& Might
Knowledge, Known as Smitty
drove his chariot with great pride.
Wisdom, known as Sully
rode bravley by his side.
Courage & Strength were together
Marcianda & Seamens, great men
and each were holding a runner
for when their dogs would come join them.
Might was taking up the lead
with a horse that was on loan,
For God had promissed Donny
he again would have his own.
They ride together as a team
Watching over police everywhere.
Giving us subule reminders
that they are always there.
So when we are faced with a problem
and we question what choice may be right,
We know we can call on five warriors,
Knowledge,Wisdom,Courage,Strength,& Might
Michelle wrote this for the five officers who lost thier lives in a plane crash
on October 20 1996
One more fallen comrade, the number continues to grow. Sorrow fills one's heart, trying not to let the anger show.
Waging a daily battle, out there trying to win the war. Never knowing what you'll encounter, on this stop or from behind that next door.
One more fallen comrade, is gone and out of our sight. Yet guiding us from up above, always riding on our right.
~ m2 ~
©
7.30.99
On the night they found you there, your life was taken without a care. As every brother and sister arrived, uncontrollably we wept, we cried.
~~
Knowing we have to make a start, to fill the void deep within our heart. Even tho' you have left us behind, you'll always be with us in heart, spirit and mind.
~~
Reunited one day we shall be, No longer victims on the 'Streets of Misery'. But til' the day we meet again, I will cherish the memories of my brother, my friend.
~~
Not gonna' sit at your grave and cry, instead I will smile...lookin' up to the sky. You'll be up where all angels in blue go, protecting your brothers and sisters below.
~ m2 ~
©
10.9.99
My sister, my brother, my friend, please lend me a hand. I'm trying so hard to figure it out, but I'm failing to understand.
~~
I keep asking myself what is going on, my heart aches as I breath a heavy sigh. Unable to answer the questions, of why did another brother have to die.
~~
The very people that we swore, to serve, protect and defend. Are the same ones makin' sure, we meet an untimely end.
~~
I know it's all part of what we are, and it comes with wearing the blue. Yet at this moment I am lost, I haven't got a clue.
~~
My sister, my brother, my friend, please lend me a hand. I'm trying so hard to figure it out, but I'm failing to understand.
~ m2 ~
©
10.14.99
Carefully chosen masks I wear, as the sun shines in the sky . In the darkness my walls come down, to the night I can't seem to lie.
~~
Sorrow fills my heart, the pain is beyond belief. I want the hurt to stop, yet there seems to be no relief.
~~
With the loss of a brother or sister, each time a piece of me dies. Knowin' I'll never have the answers, to all my of questions of why.
~~
All these feelings, are so strong and real. Yet the time has come, I know it's time to heal.
~~
Need to move forward, searching for some relief. For this deep ache in my heart, and the sorrow beyond belief.
~ m2 ~
©
10.16.99
Westport, MA 02790-4806
United States