Let’s Protect Our Protectors

I have noticed with great pride and thanksgiving many motorists moving over to put a traffic lane between our patrolmen and their vehicles, as the law now requires. Thank you!

I recall visiting the Headquarters of the Highway Patrol several years ago and I was so emotionally moved when I looked at the photographs of all the patrolmen and women who have given their lives in the service of we, the people. So very many, mostly young as I recall, who lost their lives in the line of duty. Many of these precious lives were lost on our Texas highways in traffic accidents. So many were hit by motorist while performing their duties.

What a horrendous loss. To see their faces and read the stories of their dedication and service was very moving. I thought not only of them, but of their precious families. I tried to imagine the wives and other loved ones, especially the children, left behind with no father or mother to come home to.

Having grown up alone, with no father or brothers or sisters made my visit especially meaningful. My mother was a working mom – for several years working two eight hour jobs to pay for my medical bills, in the late 40’s and early 50’s. The financial burden was just the beginning. She had to endure an uncertain future with no husband to share the responsibilities with or to lean on. And my stark childhood was truly alone and difficult.

These are thoughts that one lives with daily and forever. And these remembrances weigh heavily upon me as I think of our brothers and sisters in law enforcement and the tremendously difficult, and above all, dangerous jobs they undertake every day for you and for me.

Please take care of them. Whenever you see a patrol car beside the road – give that officer the safer margin of space he or she needs while performing the duties of their office. Remember the precious families of the patrolmen and women. Let’s move our cars over one extra lane to keep them safe. They are, after all, dedicating their lives to keep us safe so that we can return home safe to our families.

My precious wife, LeVonna, and I have created a new scholarship to honor one of our own – the Floyd and Brenda Heckman Scholarship. Floyd serves Tarrant County as a Deputy Sheriff and his daughter, Katie, has been one of our scholars at the Anderson School. We are extremely proud of Floyd and wish to honor him, his family and his service to our citizens. This scholarship provides for fifty percent of the tuition and fees to attend the school. Parents who serve in any branch of law enforcement, local, state or federal, are encouraged to contact Dr. Anderson at the school if interested in taking advantage of the Floyd and Brenda Heckman Scholarship Fund. In addition a full Heckman Scholarship is available to the children of officers who have become disabled or given their lives in the line of duty in the service of our communities, state or nation. Dr. Anderson may be contacted at 817-448-8484.

May God bless and keep all of our friends in law enforcement as they prove to be such a blessing to all of us.