PEOPLE

In the adventure of being a Peace Keeper the most amazing part is those exceptionally fine people that we are privileged to meet and get to know.  I am working with one of those people.  She is my Field Training Officer.

She is the daughter of a U.S. Marine... Wife of a U.S. Marine...  and Mother of three Peace keepers who have served or are currently serving in Afghanistan or Iraq.  One of these three is now in Basic Training in the Police Department in Henrico County, Virginia.

My trainer is an amazing person.  She is an excellent Community Services Officer.  She is an excellent trainer and we have had some interesting calls together these past two weeks.  I am truly blessed to work with such great people.

Besides her I am working with and for people that I have known for a long time through my service as chaplain to this police department.  I worked with my Captain when he was a rookie officer.  I have had a great relationship with my Sergeant for a long time. Most of the officers greet me as chaplain and address me as chaplain even though I am wearing a totally different uniform. 

Our supply clerk is also one of the Administrative Chaplains in the chaplain program.  When I was issued my new shirts (short sleeve, dark red polo) she exclaimed, "You have arms and a neck!" because she had never seen me in any clothing but my long sleeve black  or blue uniform and clergy collar.

When I walked into the records division office Thursday the female supervisor exclaimed, "Don, this is the first time I have ever seen you with your clothes on!"... and every one around giggled and laughed... but they understood that she meant this was the first time she had seen me in any clothing except my long sleeve black or blue uniform.  Of course she said it this way so that every one could have a laugh.  My secretary did not even recognize me when I walked up to her until I spoke to her.

Our adventures have been many.  I thank God for such great people to work with because I had forgotten how caustic the motoring public can be when they are inconvenienced.  We had a redi-mix concrete mixer truck overturn in an intersection that was the only way into an upscale subdivision and also to a very popular surfing beach.

We needed four police officers and two Community Services Officers to handle all of the traffic problems generated as we handled the accident and the directing of traffic.
It took 2 1/2 hours to clear the roadway so that the residents could get in to their houses.  Even with the overturned, huge truck and two giant wreckers being so obviously visible, many of the residents were very irate that we could not immediately accomodate their passage to their houses.  I heard some language directed toward me that I would not ever want to hear directed to any human being... simply because we could not promptly lift this huge truck and debris out of their way so they could get to their houses.  The amazing part was that all six police personnel on scene were so calm and even tempered in the face of so much ill will and poor attitudes.  I do work with some amazing Peace Keepers.

As I have been thinking upon this message I am remembering a long line of other amazing Peace Keepers of the military, law enforcement or both.  No other man that I know has ever been more blessed than I to meet, work with and know so many of the finest Peace Keepers that have worn the uniforms and done the work of military service and law enforcement and all of those in our support systems.

That long line began with the Troopers who appeared as large as mountains to me in my youth.  I had the blessing of becoming one of them and seeing two of them after I became a Trooper and thanking them for their influence upon me that brought me to be among them.

That line continued through several teachers, who were previously Peace Keepers, in my educational process...

It was continued through the instructors and supervisors that I was trained by and worked with and for.  It has continued here in a marvelous adventure of work experiences and friendships with law enforcement personnel, support personnel and military personnel, both active and retired.

It continues today in a way that whets my appitite and causes me to inquire of my Commander-In-Chief... "What are we going to get into today?"  It was there last night through my duty on the strip... And I pray that it will always be there no matter how much longer my course runs in this life...

I have studied the lives of those who preceded us... I have studied their affectations upon this world... I have been privileged to know some of them in person... I have been trained by the best... I have worked with and for the best... I have gotten to know some of the best through these weekly messages...

I pray as you read this message you will know that every Peace Keeper who reads this message, whether active or retired, is included in this description of the best... You are all my Parish and that is how I see every one of you... You are the best... You are doing your best...  To give the best possible life to all of those whom we represent... our families, friends and the citizens of our great nation. 

This message is also in appreciation to the Peace Keepers of other nations that have supported and assisted us in our efforts to guarantee life, liberty, peace and freedom to those whom we represent. 

It applies also to ALL of those in our support systems.  There are many things we could not do in the field if you were not there for us... Supplying us... Directing us... Informing us... Seeing to payroll and many other things.

My Commander-In-Chief and I love and appreciate every one of you.  THANK YOU for all of the service that you have given.

"BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!"... wherever there is for you.  Be alert, watchful, suspicious and wary.  Take the very best possible care of you as you care for others.  See to the best of care for your spiritual being.  It needs to be strong for you to be successful.

Call or write if I may be of any service to you.

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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