LOBO
Member
God Bless you Faulkner. It would be an honor to shake your hand, and buy you a Happy Meal (or steak) one day.
250th Happy Meal
- Thread starter Faulkner
- Start date
ACORN
Member
I'll just echo the others that have said You're a fine man and a credit to your profession. Good to hear of a person that not only talks the talk but walks the walk.
Lord let me be more like you.
God bless you Officer Faulkner!
Lord let me be more like you.
God bless you Officer Faulkner!
I am another one who missed this thread when it was originally in play, and I'm glad it came back to life.
Faulkner, good on you. We live in a world that requires us to be tough from time to time but permits us to be kind almost every minute of our lives. The former attitude gets us through the day, and the latter makes it likelier that the number of new tough days will decline as time goes by. I applaud you and all LEOs who realize that the most fundamental requirements of the job do not prohibit frequent kindnesses and acts of generosity. Kids can't pick their parents, but occasional kindnesses by strangers can show the children of underperforming parents that they have options beyond following in their parents' footsteps.
Nicely done.
Faulkner, good on you. We live in a world that requires us to be tough from time to time but permits us to be kind almost every minute of our lives. The former attitude gets us through the day, and the latter makes it likelier that the number of new tough days will decline as time goes by. I applaud you and all LEOs who realize that the most fundamental requirements of the job do not prohibit frequent kindnesses and acts of generosity. Kids can't pick their parents, but occasional kindnesses by strangers can show the children of underperforming parents that they have options beyond following in their parents' footsteps.
Nicely done.
Well said, David.
GreyOwl
Member
I am another that just now ran across this thread. Another round of thanks to Faulkner for actually living the "Protect and Serve" part that the SCOTUS has decided is irrelevant in today's society. Great job!!
OP
Faulkner
Member
Well, I counted up my tally and I'm at 299 Happy Meals . . . I knew I was getting close to 300. Might sound like a lot, but after nearly 22 years in my LE career that only averages about one per month. There have been situations where I've bought several at a time, and then there might be months where I don't have any opportunities at all. I don't remember every Happy Meal purchase I've made through the years, but there are several that I will never forget.
I had lunch recently with a state trooper who works our county as part of his assignment. He's been on the job for about 11 years. In our conversation I found it interesting to learn he keeps as many stuffed animals in his patrol car trunk as room allows with all his other equipment. He has them available to give out to kids in the various situations that we run across. He said his wife is an antique furniture nut (his words) and she loves to hit all the local garage sales and flea markets. While on the hunt for antiques she also keeps an eye out for lightly used stuff animals. She usually gets them pretty cheap, enough to keep him supplied. He said he hasn't really kept count, but he's given away at least a hundred stuffed animals to kids while on the job. I thought that was a pretty cool deal.
We compared notes on some of the situations we have had with kids that will just rip your heart out. We agreed that a Happy Meal or a stuffed animal ain't much, but sometimes these kids just need to know that someone, for just a moment in a trying time, cares about them.
I had lunch recently with a state trooper who works our county as part of his assignment. He's been on the job for about 11 years. In our conversation I found it interesting to learn he keeps as many stuffed animals in his patrol car trunk as room allows with all his other equipment. He has them available to give out to kids in the various situations that we run across. He said his wife is an antique furniture nut (his words) and she loves to hit all the local garage sales and flea markets. While on the hunt for antiques she also keeps an eye out for lightly used stuff animals. She usually gets them pretty cheap, enough to keep him supplied. He said he hasn't really kept count, but he's given away at least a hundred stuffed animals to kids while on the job. I thought that was a pretty cool deal.
We compared notes on some of the situations we have had with kids that will just rip your heart out. We agreed that a Happy Meal or a stuffed animal ain't much, but sometimes these kids just need to know that someone, for just a moment in a trying time, cares about them.
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Ole Joe Clark
Absent Comrade
I've never met a cop like Faulkner....... Well, maybe I have. I remember my first ticket, warning ticket that is, 50 +/- years ago. Had an old VW, and we got stopped one night because one of the headlights was out. Turned out to be a loose fuse.
Then, one day on the way home from work, in an old 1950 Ford truck, minding my own business when the blue light came on behind me. About scared me to death. The State Trooper came to the window and asked me if the steering was loose in the truck, and it was, I showed him about a quarter turn of play in the steering wheel. He then told me to drive careful on the way home and to stay close to the shoulder so I wouldn't run into anybody. No ticket, not even a warning.
Then, (I've got quite a record), a few years later, I ran a caution light, (my fault, no excuse), just a warning ticket. I will admit I was a little nervous because he came to the window with his hand over his sidearm.
Last but not least, in 1996 we were in Texas chasing live, (and dead) relatives, doing genealogy. Going out of one little town to another, I didn't slow down enough and here came the blue lights again. Another warning ticket, the policeman told us to be careful and to enjoy Texas.
Not long ago, I had a chance to get even with them, (the police). We were on a road trip and had stopped a fast food joint for a bathroom break and something to eat, and three of them came in after we did and I was able to buy their lunch. Don't know their names, didn't tell them mine, didn't pose for photos, just took a opportunity to show support for the boys in blue that risk their lives for us daily.
God bless and protect you Faulkner, and all the other good guys that are under attack these days.
Then, one day on the way home from work, in an old 1950 Ford truck, minding my own business when the blue light came on behind me. About scared me to death. The State Trooper came to the window and asked me if the steering was loose in the truck, and it was, I showed him about a quarter turn of play in the steering wheel. He then told me to drive careful on the way home and to stay close to the shoulder so I wouldn't run into anybody. No ticket, not even a warning.
Then, (I've got quite a record), a few years later, I ran a caution light, (my fault, no excuse), just a warning ticket. I will admit I was a little nervous because he came to the window with his hand over his sidearm.
Last but not least, in 1996 we were in Texas chasing live, (and dead) relatives, doing genealogy. Going out of one little town to another, I didn't slow down enough and here came the blue lights again. Another warning ticket, the policeman told us to be careful and to enjoy Texas.
Not long ago, I had a chance to get even with them, (the police). We were on a road trip and had stopped a fast food joint for a bathroom break and something to eat, and three of them came in after we did and I was able to buy their lunch. Don't know their names, didn't tell them mine, didn't pose for photos, just took a opportunity to show support for the boys in blue that risk their lives for us daily.
God bless and protect you Faulkner, and all the other good guys that are under attack these days.
I'm glad you updated as I wouldn't have known about this thread.
Presently, my wife's family has 14 LEO's including 2 Chiefs. Sadly, some of them have let the job harden their hearts.
Not everyone who wears a badge should.
You should.
Presently, my wife's family has 14 LEO's including 2 Chiefs. Sadly, some of them have let the job harden their hearts.
Not everyone who wears a badge should.
You should.
I had not seen this thread before today. Can't say I ever did anything of the like in my time on duty (I did let a few parents come pick up a borderline DUI kid if the kid said yessir / nosir as appropriate, and stayed out of trouble afterwards).
My "do something for the kids" started when I was volunteering at a Red Cross shelter for refugees from hurricanes on the Texas coast. We were not allowed to do anything extra for any family, but we were asked often to take Mom or Dad with one or more kids with vouchers to WalMart to buy basics that the shelter did not have. So we could use our gas / vehicle.
One of those days I had earlier seen a Grandmother hiding her grandkids eyes, and in tears, looking at the flyover of their neighborhood on Galveston Island. There was no house, no neighborhood, all razed to the dirt. Story came out that Mom & Dad had decided to ride it out, and put G'mom and the kids on an evac bus. Mom & Dad & the cat were lost.
So here I am taking them later in the day to WalMart. "Where do we start?" "Anywhere." So we bought clothes and shoes, but ran short for any sort of toy. I stopped at a friend's Hallmark shop, and grabbed a few Beanie Baby cats for the kids.
Once everyone got checked back in, I was dismissed (as in fired). Why? The Beanie Babies. That was out of regulation. I could have shorted then a pair of jeans or shoes, and bought them on the voucher, and all would have been fine. But the extra? Not allowed.
I went back to the Hallmark Shop, and was griping about a certain charity. Owner went in the back room, and brought out a file box full. They were not the most popular, and he was willing to offer them for the dozens of kids in the shelter. Now a problem. I've been fired. So I went back and sat out in the parking lot until I saw one of the other volunteers come out for a break, and passed them on. That worked, because you see, as having been dropped off, they were an anonymous donation, and could be used.
Faulkner, if you are familiar with Coal Hill and Harmony, you'll have my roots. Keep the faith. And I still have a carton of Beanie Babies if you or your ASP friend need a re-supply. Was just wondering what to do with them, as I'm cleaning house so no one will have to do it when I'm gone.
My "do something for the kids" started when I was volunteering at a Red Cross shelter for refugees from hurricanes on the Texas coast. We were not allowed to do anything extra for any family, but we were asked often to take Mom or Dad with one or more kids with vouchers to WalMart to buy basics that the shelter did not have. So we could use our gas / vehicle.
One of those days I had earlier seen a Grandmother hiding her grandkids eyes, and in tears, looking at the flyover of their neighborhood on Galveston Island. There was no house, no neighborhood, all razed to the dirt. Story came out that Mom & Dad had decided to ride it out, and put G'mom and the kids on an evac bus. Mom & Dad & the cat were lost.
So here I am taking them later in the day to WalMart. "Where do we start?" "Anywhere." So we bought clothes and shoes, but ran short for any sort of toy. I stopped at a friend's Hallmark shop, and grabbed a few Beanie Baby cats for the kids.
Once everyone got checked back in, I was dismissed (as in fired). Why? The Beanie Babies. That was out of regulation. I could have shorted then a pair of jeans or shoes, and bought them on the voucher, and all would have been fine. But the extra? Not allowed.
I went back to the Hallmark Shop, and was griping about a certain charity. Owner went in the back room, and brought out a file box full. They were not the most popular, and he was willing to offer them for the dozens of kids in the shelter. Now a problem. I've been fired. So I went back and sat out in the parking lot until I saw one of the other volunteers come out for a break, and passed them on. That worked, because you see, as having been dropped off, they were an anonymous donation, and could be used.
Faulkner, if you are familiar with Coal Hill and Harmony, you'll have my roots. Keep the faith. And I still have a carton of Beanie Babies if you or your ASP friend need a re-supply. Was just wondering what to do with them, as I'm cleaning house so no one will have to do it when I'm gone.
God Bless and keep you safe sir!
alwaysoutdoors
Member
Thanks for sharing
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