09/19/2007

In remembrance…
By Bob Lassahn

In Remembrance

As Tuesday, September 11 2007 dawned I knew exactly where I would be at 10 a.m. There was a remembrance ceremony commemorating the tragedy of September 11, 2001, better known as 9-11, at the Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines and I was tasked to cover the event as a reporter for this newspaper.

Initially there was not a conscious decision on my part regarding whether I wanted to be there. I simply had an assignment. That is until I was preparing to leave home and out of habit dug out a well-worn black "mourning band" for my retired police badge. The memories came flooding back and I knew without a doubt, assignment or not, I absolutely had to be there.

The ceremony would acknowledge the heroic efforts and the sacrifice of emergency service workers on 9-11. Even though far removed from the place where they lived and died, I owed it to them and to their families to attend.

When a police officer dies in the line of duty his brothers and sisters in law enforcement place a narrow strip of black material around their badge. It is an almost universal display of solidarity and a mark of respect for the fallen officer. 

For a total of three decades I was involved with the law enforcement community, nearly 28 of those years as a sworn member of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD). I vividly recall the feeling of loss when a brother or sister officer fell, even when I did not know them personally and even though their agency might be a great distance away. I remember the funerals and the families …the wives, children, moms and dads, brothers and sisters…and the friends weeping for a loved one taken all too soon.

In some respects when an officer was killed it was a feeling of "but for the grace of God that could be me and that could be my family mourning their loss." During those 28 years of service 26 members of the Baltimore force, some of them my friends as well as professional colleagues, died in the line of duty. A black mourning band for the badge was always kept handy.

On 9-11 the New York City Police lost 23 officers and the Port Authority Police lost 37 officers. I felt that I owed it to them and to their loved ones to be there and acknowledge their sacrifice on that terrible day.

I also developed close personal ties with and a deep respect for Baltimore firefighters and paramedics. During my years with the BPD 18 firefighters of the Baltimore Fire Department were killed in the line of duty. On occasions too numerous to mention our paths crossed in some very dicey situations. Although our jobs were distinctly different police officers shared the sense of loss when a tragedy snuffed out the life of a brave firefighter far too soon.

On 9-11 the New York City Fire Department lost 341 firefighters and two paramedics. I felt that I owed it to them and to their loved ones to acknowledge their sacrifice on that terrible day.

To the Ocean Pines Police Department, the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department, the Worcester County Veterans Memorial Foundation and all others responsible for arranging the moving ceremony remembering the events of 9-11, I extend a heart felt "thank you."  Thank you not only for this opportunity to remember the heroes who laid down their lives on 9-11, but also the opportunity to reflect on so many others I have known who have given the last full measure in service to others.