Presidents get to do remarkable things while they serve as the leader of the Free World.
One of their ceremonial tasks is to pin medals around the necks of heroes. Military personnel receive these honors. So do firefighters and police officers.
President Obama got to perform one of those duties Monday when he bestowed Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor awards to 13 officers, who performed remarkable acts of courage — such as pulling someone from a burning vehicle, stopping a mass shooting in Garland, Texas, and rescuing a little girl from captivity. One of the officers honored paid for his heroism with his life.
I merely intend here to join those who honor these individuals for the extraordinary bravery they perform each day they go to work.
The president summed up nicely the kind of courage he honored: “It’s been said that perfect valor is doing without witnesses what you would do if the whole world were watching,” Obama said. “The men and women who run toward danger remind us with your courage and humility what the highest form of citizenship looks like.”
So, they do this in service to their communities.
None of us does this enough. I certainly don’t.
It’s always good to thank public safety officers for their service to the community — for their service to each of us individually. On the occasions that I do offer the thanks, I’m always gratified by the sincerity of their response. To a person, the individuals I’ve thanked have responded with outwardly genuine appreciation for the expression.
We’ve all known that there’s nothing at all “routine” for these public safety officers who report to work each day. Every call for assistance, every emergency presents potential danger for the responder … and for the family members who pray every day that they’ll return home.
Thank you all for your service.