Old Corp
Member
Got this from a good friend who's a retired ATF Agent. Thought it worthy of passing around.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depending upon your personal experience! I find this quite true!
Once the badge goes on, it never comes off, whether they
can see it, or not. It fuses to the soul through adversity, fear
and adrenaline and no one who has ever worn it with pride, integrity and
guts, can ever sleep through the 'call of the wild' that wafts through
bedroom windows in the deep of the night.
When Cops Retire
When a good cop leaves the 'job' and retires to a better life, many
are jealous, some are pleased and yet others, who may have already
retired, wonder. We wonder if he knows what he is leaving behind,
because we already know. We know, for example, that after a
lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing
for those past times. We know in the law enforcement life there is
a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back
of the closet . We know even if he throws them away, they will be
on him with every step and breath that remains in his life. We also
know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his
heart still is.
These are the burdens of the job.
You will still look at people suspiciously, still see what others do not
see
or choose
to ignore and always will look at the rest of the law enforcement world
with
a respect
for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing. Never think for
one
moment you
are escaping from that life. You are only escaping the 'job' and merely
being allowed
to leave 'active' duty.
So what I wish for you is:
that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart you never forget for
one moment
that 'Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called children of
God,'
and that you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has
ever known.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depending upon your personal experience! I find this quite true!
Once the badge goes on, it never comes off, whether they
can see it, or not. It fuses to the soul through adversity, fear
and adrenaline and no one who has ever worn it with pride, integrity and
guts, can ever sleep through the 'call of the wild' that wafts through
bedroom windows in the deep of the night.
When Cops Retire
When a good cop leaves the 'job' and retires to a better life, many
are jealous, some are pleased and yet others, who may have already
retired, wonder. We wonder if he knows what he is leaving behind,
because we already know. We know, for example, that after a
lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing
for those past times. We know in the law enforcement life there is
a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back
of the closet . We know even if he throws them away, they will be
on him with every step and breath that remains in his life. We also
know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his
heart still is.
These are the burdens of the job.
You will still look at people suspiciously, still see what others do not
see
or choose
to ignore and always will look at the rest of the law enforcement world
with
a respect
for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing. Never think for
one
moment you
are escaping from that life. You are only escaping the 'job' and merely
being allowed
to leave 'active' duty.
So what I wish for you is:
that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart you never forget for
one moment
that 'Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called children of
God,'
and that you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has
ever known.