{"id":2582,"date":"2012-09-11T00:01:17","date_gmt":"2012-09-11T04:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/?p=2582"},"modified":"2012-09-11T11:17:35","modified_gmt":"2012-09-11T15:17:35","slug":"911-observance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thinblueflorida.com\/?p=2582","title":{"rendered":"9\/11 Observance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, I was nearly two hours into a Daywatch patrol shift when I decided to swing by a high school and visit with the School Resource Officer.\u00a0 The school was in my sector and the SRO was by himself.\u00a0 With more than 2000 students, I knew he needed some back-up on occasion.<\/p>\n

As I entered his office, I saw him intently staring at the television and absently chewing a Twizzler.\u00a0 He did not look up at me when I came in.\u00a0 I sat down next to him and asked what was going on.\u00a0 \u201cNot sure,\u201d he said.\u00a0 It was about 8:50 am.\u00a0 We began watching the terror attacks unfold.\u00a0 At 9:03, we watched, stunned, as the second plane hit the World Trade Center.\u00a0 The Pentagon was next around 9:37.<\/p>\n

Within an hour of me entering that office, the United States of America had awoken to the power of terrorism.\u00a0 The SRO got a call from the school\u2019s administrative office.\u00a0 Parents were panicking and coming to the campus.<\/p>\n

We abandoned the horror on TV and went to the school\u2019s courtyard and pick-up area.\u00a0 Students were moving about the school.\u00a0 Several stopped to ask if we had seen what was going on in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s fine, you\u2019re all safe,\u201d we delivered with a smile.\u00a0 A stream of cars, mini-vans, and pick-ups began to clog the driveway.\u00a0 Scared parents were arriving to get their kids.\u00a0 The SRO and I attempted to calm them, too.<\/p>\n

I work in west central Florida.\u00a0 I look back and I am amazed at how the fear of terrorism crossed distance and communities without impediment.\u00a0 President George W. Bush was in Sarasota that day, not far south of my city.\u00a0 I think that may have heightened the local security concerns.<\/p>\n

As that day wore on, I saw the power of the Thin Blue Line to provide reassurance to a fearful citizenry, not only where I work, but abroad.\u00a0 On that day, I felt proud to be a uniformed symbol of government.\u00a0 I still do.<\/p>\n

In the wake of the tragedy, I think we were amazed at the outpouring of gratitude toward the nation\u2019s police officers and firefighters.\u00a0 I received many a thank you and handshake, and more than one citizen offered to buy my meal in the ensuing months.<\/p>\n

I visited Ground Zero eight years later.\u00a0 It was strange to stand where the stone had been cast into the water, generating the ripples we felt so far away.\u00a0\u00a0 I think it should be a pilgrimage taken by all First Responders.\u00a0 I was humbled.<\/p>\n

Regardless of the accomplishments or indignations we experience as police officers, I am proud to belong to the brotherhood of protectors who watch over our nation and risk the ultimate sacrifice.\u00a0 I have a greater appreciation of it all since the events of 9\/11\/2001.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>I wrote the above for BlueSheepdog.com<\/a> last year.\u00a0 I thought I’d reprint it here since it seems important to remember our history.\u00a0 Seventy-two law enforcement officers lost their lives in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001..\u00a0 Their service will never be forgotten…<\/em><\/p>\n

Randall<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, I was nearly two hours into a Daywatch patrol shift when I decided to swing by a high school and visit with the School Resource Officer.\u00a0 The school was in my sector and the SRO was by himself.\u00a0 With more than 2000 students, I knew he needed some back-up on occasion. As I entered his office, I saw him intently staring at the television and absently chewing a Twizzler.\u00a0 He did not look up at me when I came in.\u00a0 I sat down next to him and asked what was going on.\u00a0 \u201cNot sure,\u201d he said.\u00a0 It was about 8:50 am.\u00a0 We began watching the … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8],"tags":[487,489,488],"class_list":["post-2582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-misc","tag-487","tag-september-11-2001","tag-world-trade-center-attack"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t