"Police Supporter" Stickers

**TALLON** · 01-11-05 04:25 PM

First, I didn't know where to post this, so if a Mod wants to move it, please feel free.

Over the past five or so years, I've received annual calls from Local & State law enforcement agencies seeking donations. For the most part, I've happily supported one, maybe two of them each year. This year I received three such calls(the firefighters also call, I must be on a list). The first LE related call got my donation and the last two I dismissed after telling them of my earlier support. It's the content of the first call that I want to share with you.

The man was pleasant and authoritative, a tack I thought appropriate given his affiliation. Whether he was a LEO or not, I didn't ask. He was soliciting donations to the "100 Club", a fund that looks to share monies with widowed spouses of fallen officers. This was the first year that I donated to this particular cause. I donated and felt good about it. After receiving my pledge, the man said "Thanks "Tallon", the officers are counting on you." To which I said, "I'm counting on them." He thanked me again and hung up. After the call, I realized that I AM counting on them...counting on You.

Each year that I donate I receive a "Thank You" letter and a sticker reflecting my level of support. I haven't put past stickers on my car, however this year I did. In my front windshield, I put the "100 Club" sticker. I didn't do it looking to get out of a ticket or get leniency should I be stopped. I did it to show support for the families affected by the loss of a LEO spouse/father/mother. I am reminded of these families every time that I drive home from work. See, each night I take the "Trooper, Andrew A. Smith" memorial highway home. Early last year, I learned that the family of "Trooper Smith" lives in an adjacent neighborhood. During the summer, I saw his children playing in the front yard and wondered what they must have gone through. What "Mrs. Smith" must have gone through. I don't put much stock in stickers on cars and assume that most are there in the hopes of getting a "free pass" if stopped, but the widows' fund seemed more tangible. Now whether or not the widows receive the lion's share of the funds, well I sure hope so, assuming they do, God I hope it helps. Stickers and letters don't mean a thing, but if a child of a fallen LEO gets to have some happiness because of something that I've done, well then, mission accomplished. My only hope is that we have less families collecting from the "100 Club" fund this year.

Truth is, we're all counting on you and I guess this is just my way of saying thank you to all the Men & Women in Blue.