Sermon Central
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A Philadelphia Police Officer's September 11th ... PRO
Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 3, 2002 (message contributor)
A PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICER'S SEPTEMBER 11TH EXPERIENCE
I am a Philadelphia Police Officer. I am married with a wonderful son. On September 11th, I (like most of my fellow Americans) witnessed the senseless slaughter of human life. The department was put on high alert and our tours of duty were extended. With the exception of a scant five minutes to change my uniform of the day, I did not see my wife and son until later that evening.
My squad was deployed to the hotels near the Philadelphia International Airport. In each and every hotel we checked we saw the faces of travelers-- many of them American-- change from distraught to a significance of hope. People walked up to us and thanked us for being there. We were just doing our job. We were asked our feelings for fallen brothers and sisters in New York. I could only respond that it was horrible, seeing no need to raise their already heightened anxiety. I felt the pulse of the true America was still beating. I witnessed strangers offering to pay for dinner, a room, or share a taxi.
When I returned home, I kissed my wife and hugged her. I went upstairs to kiss my son who should have been already asleep. Being the son of a Philadelphia police officer myself, I could not be angry with my six-year-old for waiting up and feigning sleep for my return. I too had done the same during the turbulence of the late sixties and early seventies.
My son, Timothy, sat up in his bed, and asked me, "Did you and your partners catch the bad guys that hurt those people with the bomb and airplanes?" "No," I said. I choked back a sob. "We didn’t. Not today." Timothy leaned closer to me. For the first time in my son’s life, he was witnessing me crying. He held my face. "Don’t cry daddy." He put on a brave face. "All those police and firefighters that died when the buildings fell on them will be replaced by their sons." I began to cry...
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