One Small Gesture

I have several winter rituals, most of which are shared by many others. For instance, the Christmas tree goes up on December 1st. When Pam and I lived in places where it was possible, that would include an early start, walking through the designated area in the forest to harvest a tree.

Many of my other rituals are also based on Christmas. The calls to family, sneaky shopping for gifts for Pam, and the like. However, there's one very small “rite”, if you will, that only takes a few minutes, but holds great significance in our house and I do my best to see to it every December.

That simple little ritual is to place one blue light in a window and leave it burning through New Year's Day. Some readers may recognize the gesture, and the reason behind it. For those that don't, it's to honor Police, Firefighters and First Responders.

The campaign that started it has been modified from region to region and today, there are “Light Up the Night” walks and other events at various times of the year, some of which are dedicated to honoring those who perished in the line of duty and some that are simply a sign of appreciation for those who serve in those roles. Some light up neighborhoods in blue, while others simply leave porch lights on.

Mine is a personal choice and it probably goes unnoticed among the many brilliant light displays that adorn cities, businesses and homes this time of year. That's okay. This is meant to be a quiet statement of solidarity.

I committed to this idea in the 70's, as the younger brother of an active-duty police officer. He was a “beat cop” at the time, out there patrolling the streets. He was as dedicated as they come, and served proudly. “Serving” meant going the extra mile to ensure public safety. One of his favorite stories about those days was “bobbing for drunks” who had ignored the warning signs and driven into flooded underpasses.

Not all the stories are pleasant, of course, and some he's kept completely to himself. I do know he was involved in one long standoff with a suspect with guns drawn and pointed, but it ended with no shots fired. I can only imagine how a situation like that must affect one's psyche. I can say that, for the family, it really hit home, knowing that this was part of his everyday job.

On a side note, in those days, it was something of a perk for a young guy who occasionally committed minor traffic violations. Amarillo, Texas was a much smaller community then, and the police force was a very tight-knit organization. On the very rare occasions that I was pulled over, the officer would read the last name on my license and notice the family resemblance. Once I'd verified that yes, I was Officer Crandell's little brother, I'd get a friendly reminder to drive safe and that would be the end of it.

Please note that I mentioned getting stopped was a rare occasion. I was a safe driver, even at the age of 16. My “big brother in blue” may have been influential in that respect, too. I like to think that it was mostly my own common sense, tempered by the horrific films they showed us in Driver's Education classes back then.

In any case, I had, and still have great respect for my brother and his coworkers, based on their commitments to the job. Yes, I'm aware that not all those who serve share the same dedication and many bad examples have come to light, especially in recent years. I've encountered a few of the deadbeats and I can attest to the fact that corruption exists within the departments.

I also feel relatively comfortable in saying that the majority of those who commit to public safety jobs are there to do just that. They're willing to put their lives on the line for you, if and when it's called for. I can also tell you they're not in it for the money. The pay isn't anything to brag about.

So, if you pass by my house during the month of December, you'll probably notice one small, blue light, prominently placed. And if you've read this, now you know why. There are those who deserve our respect and perhaps a prayer or two if that's something you believe in. Think back to 9/11. They were among the first to go in and some of them didn't make it out. And it's all part of the job.

As for my brother, I've written about him in the past tense here, but not because he's no longer with us. He eventually became a forensics detective and retired as a Lieutenant. He worked part time on the force after his retirement, to supplement a meager pension. And thankfully, he's still with us.

My little ritual is in honor of him, and those others who put themselves out there every day, as well as those who gave their all.