On Saturday, 3 April 2010 I set out in my car to drop off Easter Care Packages to the families who have lost a loved one affecting the law enforcement/fire services communities. What happened was an opportunity to meet some incredible patriot’s along the way.

Sometimes in life we have the opportunity to cross the paths of heroes this night was one of those times. When I first set out I met up with the first of many. He is Cpl. Dion Robertson of the Bellevue Police Department. A class act and true professional. I gave him the items for the family of Lt. Christopher McOmber.

I set my G.P.S. to my next stop the Lakewood Police Department. When I arrived here I saw 2 of Lakewood’s finest by their unit’s. I asked one of the officer’s over to the gate. He asked what he could do for me. I told him that I had some packages to deliver for the families of the fallen officer’s. He asked if I had any credentials and guarded as well he should have been given the recent circumstances.

I mean it was quite late at night and he wondered why someone would be bringing packages at this late hour. When I showed my identification he called over the officer and they came over to talk with me further. They said that I could put the items on their front bench. They came around to meet with me. Now other officer’s began to come over as well. I told them I was dropping off packages to all of the different agencies affected by the loss of the officer’s, that this is part of “Project Picking up the Pieces.”

I was truly humbled and honored to meet such incredible patriots on this night now early Easter morning. Then the two went inside the station for a few minutes and came out handed me memorial coins honoring the fallen heroes from Lakewood Police Station, along with 2 black/blue wrist bands honoring their fallen comrades. Words cannot properly convey what that moment was like. I was here to serve them and they came with these incredible tributes to give to me. Right at the moment as they handed me the items they got another call. They all shook my hands and thanked me for what I was doing.

When I left I prayed that the next call would go safely. I then entered my G.P.S. to meet with someone from Pierce County Sheriff’s Office I did not know who but waited to meet the next patriot. When I did meet with one of Pierce County’s finest I don’t have his name at this time, but when he met up with me he too was curious what I was doing at that time of night, but thankful for the items for the family of Officer Kent Mundell. He thanked me for the items and went on his way.

My next stop was Lewis County to meet another officer for the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. When I arrived in Lewis County it was around 03:00. I met up with an officer there and gave him the items for Sergeant Mike Gallagher’s family. This patriot who protects us thanked me and I was en route to my last stop a family of a firefighter in Redmond, Washington who had lost their son last year. It was now around 05:00. I had been up most of the day and now the start of a new day – Easter Morning. I dropped of the last Easter package in front of their doorstep and returned home.

My wife met me at the door. With a lump in my throat I said: “I am home honey and I met some of the most incredible heroes during the night.” I pray in some way we can help ease the burden of these patriot’s for all they have done for us.