(This article is seen, in part, in the print version of the magazine. Here is the full article.)
National Memorial 2008
By: Cpl. Craig Boll
I’ve never really been one to believe in fate, but events leading to and around our trip to the National Law Enforcement Memorial, may change my outlook. Two years ago, when the application process came out for the ISPA, to choose members to represent Idaho at the National Memorial, I jumped at the chance. I wrote an essay on a man I knew as a child, Leroy Brown. His son and I were best friends, and I happened to be at his house the day he accepted a job with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office in Bowie, Arizona. Looking at that uniform, feeling the weight of the badge, seeing the pride in his eyes, sealed my fate as a policeman, even at a tender age of seven. Several years later, that new Deputy was shot and killed while drinking coffee with his friends. He left a wife and two young sons.
It was my pleasure to be chosen to attend the National Memorial in May of 2007, but as fate would have it, I managed to break my ankle and had to postpone the trip until 2008. In the days prior to our departure for Washington D.C., I received a newsletter from the reunion committee in Bowie, Arizona. One entry in the newsletter was from the youngest son of Deputy Brown. He was too young to remember his dad and was asking people for stories or pictures of his dad, so he could know him better. Fate had stepped up to the plate again. 40 years had passed since I had heard from any of the Brown family, and the day before I go to the National Memorial, I hear from the son of Deputy Brown, the man whose story I had written about two years prior. I emailed him and told him the story and said I would get his fathers name traced and send it to him.
When we arrived in Washington D.C. the atmosphere was heavy with pride. It was a sense that enveloped me like a humid day. The city was alive with police from almost every state, entity, race, creed and color, all here for one thing: to honor those who have given all. It was really indescribable. It was truly an honor to be a part of such an event. Our hotel was bustling with cops settling in with uniforms, hat presses and badges, all trying to get ready.
On Tuesday Sgt. Kevin Haight, Anita Haight and I walked to the office of Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne’s office. Kevin and I in full Class A uniforms. I expected to hear some jeers or some leering looks about two Idaho cops in the big city, but all the citizens we encountered treated us with respect. We met up with Chuck Robnett and the Boise Police Officers and entered the building of the Interior Department. Secretary Kempthorne’s visit and tour was absolutely fantastic. As we were on the roof of the Interior Department speaking with Secretary Kempthorne, a bald eagle was circling the Washington Monument. This to me was another sign of fate that this trip was going to be one to remember. Later that night we gathered at the Law Enforcement Memorial for the candlelight vigil. Thousands of cops, wives and family, gathered together to honor fallen officers. The moments of silence were deafening, the shimmering of thousands of candles were mesmerizing, hearing the names of fallen officers was sobering and hearing the sobs of a mourning family, heartbreaking. Writing this still gives me chills.
On Wednesday we met at Senator Crapo’s Office for a tour of the Capitol. With an enthusiastic tour guide from Idaho, one of Senator Crapo’s aides, we were treated to a tour of the Capitol and even sat in on some Senate hearings. In our tour we met a family from Washington State that was very interested in the fact we had come all this way from Idaho to attend a ceremony for fallen officers. We piqued their interest enough, we ran into them again, touring the Law Enforcement Memorial. Later that evening we watched the Law Enforcement Memorial Parade. It was a colorful display of Honor Guards, kilts and bagpipes, officers marching with banners and patrol cars from past and present. The streets were packed elbow-to-elbow watching the procession.
Later that night we were graced with the presents of Rebecca Newbill and her daughter Lisa at dinner. Lee Stewart Newbill was killed by a coward in Moscow, Idaho on May 19, 2007, and was recently added to the names of heroes on the Law Enforcement Memorial wall. I enjoyed spending the evening with the Newbill family, and could not keep from thinking how a terrible event happening thousands of miles away a year before, had brought us together, in this place at this time, to become friends.
On Thursday, we attended the memorial service on the lawn of the U. S. Capitol. Despite the heat and humidity thousands of people were on hand, most in full dress uniforms. I heard not one complaint. Fate once again reared its head as Sgt. Kevin Haight met his cousin with the Pennsylvania State Police, one that he had heard of, but had never met. What are the odds to meet a relative amid thousands of uniformed police officers? The speakers and entertainers were fantastic. Later we met with Becky Newbill for pictures in front of the National Law Enforcement Wreath. Later that night we stood in awe as Honor Guards from all over the country took turns guarding the wreath at the Law Enforcement Memorial. Camera flashes looked like a paparazzi event in Hollywood.
Friday we met up with our friends from Boise Police Department and had a tour of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Watching the reverence given by these guards and their respect for tradition gave me a sense of pride. Pride that we display for our own family, the Law Enforcement family. It didn’t matter that our uniforms were different colors, our badges were different shapes or we talked different. We had all come together to give thanks and respect for those who have died. All were friends here.
I want to thank the Idaho State Police Association for giving me the opportunity to attend such a remarkable event. Thank you.
03/20/2009