It's good to honor our military and police heroes
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Stand or fall I know there
shall be peace in the valley;
And it's all an affair
of my life with the heroes and villains
- Brian Wilson (Beach Boys)
Saturday's Victoria Advocate, I'm proud to say, featured photos and stories about ceremonies celebrating two distinct groups of American heroes - soldiers and police officers.
Warriors Weekend, honoring those military personnel wounded in battle, is something I'm so proud of for our area. When I first learned of Warriors Weekend a couple of years ago, I thought it was the most I'd ever heard of anyone doing for these troops, and yet the very least we could do.
To take them - many from hospital beds - to Port O'Connor for a weekend of fishing, good eating and just general enjoyment, is a great way of letting them know what their service and sacrifice means to us, and that in our hearts they're never forgotten.
Frank Tilley, our master photographer and photo editor for many years, was at a ceremony on the grounds of Faith Family Church on Friday honoring the warriors on the eve of their weekend, and he took a shot of a warrior with one leg replaced by a prosthetic device. I cried unabashedly as I looked at it, right next to another photo of some young people holding up a sign that read "We love our troops."
It is so important and so heartwarming to see teenagers bearing signs that say they recognize what they owe these brave men and women, because young Americans are the ones who philosopher George Santayana said must learn from history or be "doomed to repeat it."
In the mountains of Afghanistan and the desert towns of Iraq, these soldiers literally gave a part of themselves to us. It's so good to see them getting something back.
The second ceremony featured in Saturday's Advocate was held at City Hall, where a wreath was displayed in honor of fallen police officers. Nationwide, 134 peace officers gave their lives last year in the line of duty. Thank God, none was in Victoria, but every officer here - as everywhere - knows each day or night on the job could be the last. My prayers go up nonstop for these local heroes so that 2009 remains another safe year for them.
I know a lot of us automatically feel a sense of dread when we see a police officer in our rearview mirror. But the truth is, we couldn't have a better friend bringing up our rear, a man or woman who would lay down their lives for us without hesitation.
And so, we should thank them, and thank them again, and that's why I always wave at any officer I see.
I've lost a friend in war, and I've lost several police friends on the war zone of city streets.
God willing, they were the last.
Jim Bishop is a senior editor for the Advocate. Leave him a message at 361-574-1210 or jbishop@vicad.com or comment on this column at www.victoriaadvocate.com.
