It was a beautiful service and I was honored, for the second year in a row, to have my fallen officer video shown during the opening ceremony. Forever honored; never forgotten.
IT WAS A SHINY SHOE DAY
A memorial service is a day the officers look their best. It is a sign of respect for their brothers and sisters who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Long-sleeve shirt, black tie, a black band over their badge....and, yes, shiny shoes. They have a proper dress code for such events and wearing the black sneakers that they typically wear during a normal workday so they can move about quickly and for comfort, is not part of the appropriate attire for this service.
Back in the day (late 1970s-early 80s) when my then husband was a deputy for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's office, he always wore shiny shoes or nice boots with his uniform. Best I can remember, they didn’t wear black sneakers back then. In fact, sometimes when he was running late, I would polish his boots along with adding the pins and deputy badge to his newly starched white uniform shirt. You might say that I was too young and naive way back then to say “hey, polish your own shoes” (and yes, I was very young), but I don’t think that was it. I was genuinely happy to help my husband look his best before he left the house to serve his community.
I CAN'T BELIEVE I SAID THAT!
When I left the memorial service on Friday, I was walking up Davidson Street heading to the parking garage. I stopped at a crosswalk on the corner of 3rd Street and Davidson and pushed the button to cross. A CMPD officer came up behind me and I happened to look down and noticed his shiny shoes. As I looked up I saw his name tag. The officer was a Major! Without thinking, and maybe to make conversation, I said “It’s shiny shoe day, sir”, and he said “Yes ma’am it is”.
By the time I got to the car I was mortified. I couldn't believe I said that. But if the Major knew me like the hundred or so officers who have sat at my table for a meal know me, he would understand that my heart is always in the right place when it comes to my friends in blue. It was just a silly little observation that took me back 38 years to another time in my life.
My prayer today is that those shiny shoes will stay in the closet until next year's memorial service. May my Heavenly Father continue to protect and keep my friends safe.
♥
