AT WHAT PRICE?

"We usually do not understand the cost of something until we have to pay for it." William Holden in the movie,"The Devil"s Brigade."

Today I was invited to perform the services of Invocation and Benediction for a special program of the PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN.  They had an on site mobile display used as a wall of remembrance containing over 3000 names and information on murder victims.  Some of those present were people that I have delivered death messages to, or for, over the years.  One of the speakers was the mother of one of the two teen age girls killed March 30th, 2007, by a DUI individual that was in the country illegally.  That case took six hours for myself and another chaplain as we notified the two families and got them to the hospital emergency room.  It was a moving experience for me to attend the program because I have seen so much loss of life and so much pain associated with violent death, including the death of my own son smashed in a violent vehicle crash.

As I thought upon all that I have seen and experienced I decided to take some time for me today so I watched a movie about The Devil's Brigade from WW2 from which I received the opening quote.

During my thought process I covered so many incidents in memory that it was difficult to comprehend the quantity of the memories and the pain/crisis associated with them.  Violent deaths have been part of my experience since early life when I lost teen friends to auto crashes and the death of an uncle who murdered his wife and committed suicide... Followed by the suicide of my father as I began my peace keeping career... Plus all of the tragic deaths with which I have been involved since that time.

I have personally investigated crashes with up to ten seriously injured and up to eight fatalities.  I have assisted police officers with death notifications in multiple murder cases; multiple traffic fatalities; multiple fire deaths.  I have handled far too many Sudden Infant Syndrome cases both in homes and in hospitals... One even for a law enforcement family.  I have been involved in the aftermath of far too many law enforcement suicide cases.  I have seen more things done to the human body than most people would believe possible.

When I consider all of the aggregate pain through which I have passed in my Journey, I am awed by the faithfulness of my Commander-In-Chief to minister to me and meet my needs as He sends me to minister to the needs of others.  "Awesome" is not sufficient to describe this experience but it is about the best word I can come up with to describe His faithfulness but it would still have to be multiplied many times over.

Then I thought upon all of the impossible feats done by Peace Keepers and Public Safety Personnel over the ages, especially during the history of these United States... Including some that have happened to me personally.  It is mind-boggling to try and comprehend the amazing feats accomplished by those who run to meet danger head-on instead of running away.  Even when the facts are known and proven, the feats are still incomprehensible.  Sometimes it is just so difficult to wrap our minds around the events of accomplishments, sacrifice and pain.

At what price Peace and Safety???... What price???
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Now a change of pace...

Over the past weeks and months I have had several very unusual experiences brought about because of the weekly messages of CHAPLAIN CORNER.

Last week a reader contacted me and advised that he and his two daughters would be in this area on vacation during this week and wanted to meet me and have dinner together.
We met last night and shared food, fun and fellowship.  It was a very good evening with he and his daughters, then he visited my ill daughter to speak with her because of his interest in her medical problems.  He is a retired Military Physician.

The week before this, I met with a Peace Keeper and his Finance' to plan a wedding.  He wrote me from Iraq last December and maintained contact since.

Last summer I did a wedding here for a Peace Keeper  and his Finance' from Missouri who came here on vacation.
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My daughter Donna is still in difficult circumstances medically.  This week she received a call from the pharmacy furnishing her IV Meds.  They inquired as to whether she was experiencing extreme weakness, nausea and other systemic problems.  It seems that someone mis-read her weight and the Med dose was too strong... It was so strong that it was poisoning her.  She is not on anything now and the process is reversing as far as how her systems are functioning but the infection is returning again also.
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Sometimes I receive messages from readers that involve questions and discussions.  Others call or write with requests.  I want all of you to know that I am most glad to hear from any of you or all of you if there is any thing that I might ever be able to do to assist you in any way.  You are always welcome to contact me for any reason even if you do not have a need.

One of my greatest joys is to attend muster at the beginning of the 0600 shift with all of the personnel from the two squads with whom I work.  Some mornings are just hilarious.  All of them are interesting.  I am blessed to work with a marvelous group of people.

My deepest thanks to them and to all Peace Keepers and to all of those precious people in all of our support systems.  My life would be terribly dull and lonely without all of you.  I am very glad to be included in the great lot of those whom I call Peace Keepers.  My Commander-In-Chief and I give to you our eternal thanks and appreciation... THANK YOU!  May you be blessed with the fullness of Peace and Strength!

The Adventure continues...  Unexplainable urges cause me to turn or reverse direction and find someone in great need... Wow, It is so great to have these experiences... I am sure you are having some adventures of your own.

"BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!"  ALWAYS be alert, watchful, suspicious and wary.  Take the very best care of you as you care for and about others.  See to the strength and well being of your spirit as well as all the rest of you.  Your spirit must be strong for you to be successful.

Call or write if I may be of any service... Or if you just want to encourage me... Feedback encourages all who write... It helps to know we are reaching someone who reads the message.

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

Training and practice are everything!
Without it, the best results are not obtained!

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,
Surviving Peace Keeper,
Virginia State Police Alumni,
RETIRED Police Officer Virginia Beach Police Dept.,
DCJS Certified Police Instructor,
Community Service Officer (Traffic Safety)
757-431-2190, chpln1@verizon.net
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
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