SYMBOLS

ICON - An important and enduring symbol.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the
English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

EVERY PEACE KEEPER IS AN IMPORTANT AND
ENDURING SYMBOL... AN ICON ACCORDING TO THE ABOVE DEFINITION...

As long as people have what they want or what they need Peace Keepers are usually one of those things that are the farthest from their conscious minds... But when threat or danger comes, that attitude changes very quickly... Then you cannot get to the point of need fast enough to satisfy them.

All of my career I have heard the comments about why am I giving attention to one who has just been caught in some infraction that they feel is minor and  they feel totally justified in thinking that you should not be bothering with them when somewhere there is a DUI or a murder that needs your attention... Or go catch a drug dealer... Or how much is this parking ticket or the towing of my car going to cost me?... You really ought to have better things to do with your time!

On one end of the spectrum I get it from young people who feel they receive too much attention from enforcement when they feel they are not really doing anything wrong... to those at the opposite end of the spectrum who are offended by any uniform of any authority of either law enforcement or military.  Some people just do not like us because of the duty we must perform.  Some people just do not like us because we have the power to alter their rights and freedom according to law when they do not like or believe in that particular law... Or they get upset because we are in the military and they do not agree with the action to which we are assigned and the duties we must carry out.  Some people just do not like us for what the uniform represents.

THEN LET SOME MIGHTY THREAT TO THEIR WANTS AND WELFARE ARISE...
NO MATTER HOW QUICKLY WE RESPOND... FOR THEM IT IS NOT QUICKLY ENOUGH.

Some days your appearance in uniform is admired and appreciated.  Some days your appearance in uniform is detested and ridiculed.  Some days you are abused verbally just because of who you are and because of what you do when you actually have not done anything negative to that individual except not carry out some action that they want of you or expect of you... no matter whether it is illegal or not... whether you are on duty or not... just because you are you and because of what you are sworn to do in the performance of your duties.

Sometimes their expectations are grossly unrealistic and cannot be done.  Sometimes their expectations are illegal and you are sworn not to do the action whether you have any opinion on the matter is of no consequence.

Laws are to be used in enforcement actions for keeping the peace and safety of all citizens.  Enforcement can be just advising the person of the illegal action, educating them and warning them to stop the action or risk summons or arrest... or it can go as far as the citizen wants to push it including injury or death if they push that far.

Military actions and some enforcement actions are the results of legal orders received from those in authority over you.  In both law enforcement and military all legal orders are to be obeyed because we have sworn to follow laws, orders and procedures and do our duties.

We watch and listen... We advise, educate and warn... Sometimes we must be stern and forceful rather than friendly and gentle just because of the action and attitude of the person or persons with whom we are dealing... Sometimes we must be forceful and destructive in order to match and overcome the actions directed toward us that destroy life and peace for someone including ourselves.  I, and most of the Peace Keepers that I know, will be just as friendly, gentle and compassionate as the people with whom we deal will allow us to be... And most of us will readily match their force if they insist upon escalation of the threat.  The law and procedures allow and expect us to do that...

Then there is always the oath... That group of words that we raised our right hands and swore or affirmed that we would keep those words, those promises and those actions to the very best of our ability.  That oath-promise requires that all Peace Keepers take whatever legal action necessary to keep peace and safety within their realm of responsibility - to follow orders and procedures until a satisfactory result is obtained.

All of the foregoing makes symbols-icons of each Peace Keeper whether we recognize those facts or not.  To appear in public in uniform is to attract attention whether you like or want the attention... YOU ARE AN ICON - A SYMBOL THAT STANDS FOR PEACE, ORDER, SAFETY AND JUSTICE!  THAT IS THE REASON FOR THE UNIFORM... THAT IS THE REASON FOR THE SYMBOLISM FOR WHICH THE UNIFORM STANDS... THAT IS WHY IT IS CALLED UNIFORM - ONE FORM OF APPEARANCE THAT SAYS ANYONE DRESSED IN THIS MANNER IS THERE FOR THE PEACE, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF ALL OF THE CITIZENS THAT WE REPRESENT... WHETHER AT HOME OR ON FOREIGN FIELDS.

There are some of you so well known personally to me that I would go through hell with you as my backup or me as your backup... No hesitation... There are some of you that
I would trust anywhere, anytime, anyplace, with anything, in any circumstance.  Life is to be lived and this is how we have chosen to live it.  Sometimes when we are together you are the sledge hammer and I am the velvet glove... Sometimes I am the hammer and you are the velvet glove... Sometimes we are both velvet gloves... Or we are both hammers!  We get the job done and keep or restore the peace... And that is what it is all about for most of us.

I would not change this situation among us... I love this situation among us because it is the glue that hold us together and holds the line against evil.  I am so joyfully glad that I am here among you and that I have been privileged to be here for so very long.  I have been privileged to know some mighty Peace Keepers in this time among you.
THANK YOU for sharing your duty with me and allowing me to share my duty with you.
No man has ever had better company... No Man!

The new job is going great.  I am like a kid with a new toy.  I love it.  My daughter is also doing better.  In a couple of hours I will be doing the wedding ceremony of my youngest grand-daughter so my duty for the rest of this day is pleasant.  Last night as we finished rehearsal I received a death call assignment that kept me busy for the next five hours trying to meet the needs of the family and the police officers on the scene.  I had interaction with some very interesting people during that time and worked with two of our best officers.  I am so glad to be able to help with such difficult times.  Some people think me crazy but that is just where I fit.

"BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!"  Be alert, watchful, suspicious and wary.  Take the very best care of you as you try to take care of and for others.  Give special attention to your spiritual welfare.  You need it to be strong in order for you to succeed.

Call or write if I may be of any service.

As it has always been... So it still is...

"VICTORIOUS WARRIORS WIN FIRST...
AND THEN GO TO WAR,
WHILE DEFEATED WARRIORS GO TO WAR FIRST...
AND THEN SEEK TO WIN."  Sun tzu

ONLY LIVE PEACE KEEPERS SEE THE VICTORY!!!
THEY SEE IT ONLY BECAUSE OTHERS HAVE MADE THEIR ETERNAL
PAYMENTS OF SWEAT, BLOOD, TEARS AND LIFE FOR THAT VICTORY!

WITH THE DEEPEST OF APPRECIATION AND RESPECT...
BE BLESSED (A CONDITION TO BE ENVIED)...
BE SUCCESSFUL... BE SAFE...
[My injunction to be safe means doing all you know to do as you do your job... it means
doing the best you can with what you have where you are using all your faculties to get
the job done well and with good results conquering evil and keeping or restoring peace...
it does not mean to avoid duty and honor... it does not mean to cower or allow anything
to hinder you in the process of duty according to rules, law and ethics...  it means that if
the demand takes your earthly life you destroy as much evil as possible in the process. 
That is my definition of being safe... doing the best you can and leaving the rest to God
or whomever else is responsible... being best employed for the sake and protection of all
the things and people that we hold dear.]

I represent, write for... and give the credit to:
God the Father (my Commander-in-Chief),
Jesus Christ the Son (the Eternal Captain of my life) and
the Holy Spirit of God (my Eternal Teacher, Keeper and Guide).
In Christ I live... with Him and for you I serve...
And I rejoice that you are there whether you are Christian or not...
D. R. (Don) Staton, Chaplain to Peace Keepers, 
VIRGINIA STATE POLICE ALUMNI,
RETIRED Police Officer, Certified Police Instructor,
757-431-2190, chpln1@verizon.net
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
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