I think when most people pass a cop, two things happen: their head looks down at the speedometer and their right foot comes up from the accelerator. Nobody wants a ticket.
The moment usually lasts for a second or two. Then by the next intersection, no lights, no problems; the cop is forgotten.
But if Friday taught us anything, it is the importance of remembering police officers.
Behind the state Supreme Court, known around Olympia as the Temple of Justice, a parade of officers dressed in their brightest uniforms marched into place holding flags from different departments.
A melancholy whine of bagpipes wailed in the distance.
Finally, the governor climbed onto a little stage and faced the crowd of mostly police officers.
In front of her on a folding table covered in white linen sat the photos of six officers. Some of the faces were young and some of them were older. There were men and there was a woman. They wore different uniforms, but all of them had two things in common. Each of their smiles seemed to light up the very frames that contained their pictures.
The other thing they had in common was a sacrifice every cop knows he may have to make, but hopes he never will.
Most of the pictures were familiar.
There was Steven Cox. This is the guy they called "Superman". He was a King County Sheriff's Deputy who possessed a dedication and talent for police work that made him a near street hero in White Center. The 46-year-old was an attorney who left the prosecutor's office because he thought he could make more of a difference at the police level.
Last December he was shot and killed by a 23-year-old party-goer. (The shooter also killed himself).
Cox's wife Maria spoke like a heartbroken woman bravely inching forward in life, "day after day we just need to learn to live without him," she said.
There was Joselito Barber's picture. In it, Barber beamed with good looks and pride. The 26-year-old had recently quit a job at a chain retail store to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a police officer.
Last August, a speeding car and the repeat felon who was driving it blasted through the intersection at Seattle's Yesler Way and 23rd Avenue. Barber died.
As Governor Gregoire began to tell the crowd about Barber's story, a woman who appeared to be one of his relatives stood up and began to sob. She quickly pushed past me and into the Temple of Justice. Her cries grew even louder as they echoed throughout the granite chambers.
Later, Barber's fiance said, "It's just a lot of overwhelming emotions...he's missed every moment of everyday."
In all, the Governor awarded the Medal of Honor, that's the state's highest award to police officers, to four officers posthumously.
Two officers who managed to survive vicious shooting attacks also received the award.
Kelly Kalmbach got the Medal for surviving a shooting in Spanaway nearly a year ago. A DUI suspect pulled a gun and shot Kalmbach five times. She's still struggling to regain the use of one hand.
Even so, Kalmbach was smiling on Friday. She always has a big smile.
And when I asked her what the medal meant to her, she said it was nice to be remembered.
I don't have the exact quote, but I know Kalmbach said something like, "We work on holidays, and nights and weekends...it's just nice to know we are appreciated."
Wow...how humble is that?
Since Friday, I have passed police officers on the road twice. Each time, I checked my speedometer and instinctively slowed down.
Only now, after the police cars disappeared from my rearview mirror...thoughts of police officers stayed on my mind.
The woman that stood up us me, his MOTHER! I was very hurt to have witness that my xhusband and his wife, Lito's half brother and girlfriend was presented with Medal of Honor from Seattle Washington, Picture and flowers only. I was not even given the same respect as the other family. Is that too much to ask for! I seem to not matter to anyone who I am to my son Josilito "Lito" A. Barber! It's been really hard and I will never be the same. Anyone who would like to contact me, here is my email:
lleidee@sbcglobal.net
Thank you for everything you have done for my son.
Lorna Alvarez Ring
Suisun City, CA
707-422-0202
The woman that stood up us me, his MOTHER! I was very hurt to have witness that my xhusband and his wife, Lito's half brother and girlfriend was presented with Medal of Honor from Seattle Washington, Picture and flowers only. I was not even given the same respect as the other family. Is that too much to ask for! I seem to not matter to anyone who I am to my son Josilito "Lito" A. Barber! It's been really hard and I will never be the same. Anyone who would like to contact me, here is my email:
lleidee@sbcglobal.net
Thank you for everything you have done for my son.
Lorna Alvarez Ring
Suisun City, CA
707-422-0202
The woman that stood up us me, his MOTHER! I was very hurt to have witnessed that my X-husband and his wife, Lito's half brother and girlfriend was presented with Medal of Honor from Seattle Washington, Picture and flowers only. I was not even given the same respect as the other family. Is that too much to ask for! I seem to not matter to anyone who I am to my son Josilito "Lito" A. Barber! It's been really hard and I will never be the same. Anyone who would like to contact me, here is my email:
lleidee@sbcglobal.net
Thank you for everything you have done for my son.
I understand this event have passed, but now I feel my voice should be heard what the truth IS! How some people have push me aside and not give me the respect my son would of wanted for me as his mother. I gave birth to him and no one will ever take that away from me and him! Over my dead body!
Lorna Alvarez Ring
Suisun City, CA
707-422-0202
The woman that stood up us me, his MOTHER! I was very hurt to have witnessed that my X-husband and his wife, Lito's half brother and girlfriend was presented with Medal of Honor from Seattle Washington, Picture and flowers only. I was not even given the same respect as the other family. Is that too much to ask for! I seem to not matter to anyone who I am to my son Josilito "Lito" A. Barber! It's been really hard and I will never be the same. Anyone who would like to contact me, here is my email:
lleidee@sbcglobal.net
Thank you for everything you have done for my son.
I understand this event have passed, but now I feel my voice should be heard what the truth IS! How some people have push me aside and not give me the respect my son would of wanted for me as his mother. I gave birth to him and no one will ever take that away from me and him! Over my dead body!
Lorna Alvarez Ring
Suisun City, CA
707-422-0202
Will some one confirm that the past few postings are not a sick and disgusting prank?
Dan,
Why would you think it was a sick and disgusting prank? It's not. Lorna Alvarez-Ring is Joselito's biological mother, which people tend to forget. She feels very hurt that she gets "left out" of events honoring her firstborn son. Just because she didn't raise him, she gave him life - any parent would hope that would count for something! I've come to know Mrs. Ring after Lito's death and she is a good person, has a forgiving heart, and truly only wants to be recognized as Lito's MoM! She was just venting her frustration when she read this. Probably didn't mean to have it post 4 times though. She has gotten pushed aside by alot of people after Lito's death. Being a MoM myself, I could never know how she lives with the pain of losing Lito! And I believe it's something a parent should never, ever have to go through!!