Biginge
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I went to a gas station today. It was just after lunch with my 40 year old Son. He said "Dad, you wanna go by the Chevron Station, its just over there about a mile?" "Yep" I answered, "I do Son".
I wasn't surprised to see a dozen or so uniformed officers, many Harris County marked units, and close to a hundred people milling about the memorial of flags, flags, posters, pictures of Deputy Darren Goforth, chalk writing by children on the very ground were he last lay. No, I wasn't surprised at all. Ladies were making ribbons for folks to wear in a show of support. All of these folks are from my community. They want to do whatever they can to honor this Deputy who was murdered while pumping gas into his patrol car.
You see He has touched this community to its very core. I can't explain it, maybe someone here can. Perhaps you have seen the picture of him on your TV. His silver belly Stetson, the calm look, the piercing eyes that register firmness, honesty, and Love all wrapped in one. Look at it again if you get a chance and see if you see what I see.
I have met this man on just two brief occasions, so I can't say I knew him. Somehow, when I look at his picture in uniform, I almost feel like I had known him all his too short life. His wife is a teacher. They have a daughter 12 and a Son 5. Why, oh why did this happen?
Last night our HOA gave out 600 blue light bulbs and the same number of blue ribbons. I drove around after dark and it some areas it looked like a sea of blue emitting from our porches, glaring off the ribbons. My flag is at half mast. All the lightbulbs and ribbons were gone in 35 minutes after a blast email was sent.
Over $180,000 has been collected in donations at the site. The owner of the Chevron station says that island will remain closed and long as people are still coming to pay their respects. The owner is not native to this country. "Darren was my friend" he said. I put some money in the pail. The lady said "Thank You so much Sir." I thought, if she only knew how woefully inadequate I feel at a time like this. Maybe she does know and making ribbons is the only thing she knows to do about this?
I went over to the 9 uniformed officers, shook their hands, "thanked them for all they do for us." One looked like he had tears in his eyes. He was an older one, # 3 I think. My tears started at #4. The last one #9 gave me one helluva hug.
Boys, at 73 I feel so humbled by this. It is senseless. Totally.
The funeral is Friday at 11:00 a.m. I think I will go to the Chevron station so someone will be THERE continually paying their respects to this fine Deputy, Father, Son, Friend,, et.al.
I don't want to forget Harris County Deputy Sheriff Darren Goforth. I just know he would not want his death to be in vain.
May you RIP knowing that others will take it from here.
I hope something "good" comes from the untimely death of absolutely one of the finest we had to offer. I feel he wishes the same.
God help us all, Darren is in good hands.
I wasn't surprised to see a dozen or so uniformed officers, many Harris County marked units, and close to a hundred people milling about the memorial of flags, flags, posters, pictures of Deputy Darren Goforth, chalk writing by children on the very ground were he last lay. No, I wasn't surprised at all. Ladies were making ribbons for folks to wear in a show of support. All of these folks are from my community. They want to do whatever they can to honor this Deputy who was murdered while pumping gas into his patrol car.
You see He has touched this community to its very core. I can't explain it, maybe someone here can. Perhaps you have seen the picture of him on your TV. His silver belly Stetson, the calm look, the piercing eyes that register firmness, honesty, and Love all wrapped in one. Look at it again if you get a chance and see if you see what I see.
I have met this man on just two brief occasions, so I can't say I knew him. Somehow, when I look at his picture in uniform, I almost feel like I had known him all his too short life. His wife is a teacher. They have a daughter 12 and a Son 5. Why, oh why did this happen?
Last night our HOA gave out 600 blue light bulbs and the same number of blue ribbons. I drove around after dark and it some areas it looked like a sea of blue emitting from our porches, glaring off the ribbons. My flag is at half mast. All the lightbulbs and ribbons were gone in 35 minutes after a blast email was sent.
Over $180,000 has been collected in donations at the site. The owner of the Chevron station says that island will remain closed and long as people are still coming to pay their respects. The owner is not native to this country. "Darren was my friend" he said. I put some money in the pail. The lady said "Thank You so much Sir." I thought, if she only knew how woefully inadequate I feel at a time like this. Maybe she does know and making ribbons is the only thing she knows to do about this?
I went over to the 9 uniformed officers, shook their hands, "thanked them for all they do for us." One looked like he had tears in his eyes. He was an older one, # 3 I think. My tears started at #4. The last one #9 gave me one helluva hug.
Boys, at 73 I feel so humbled by this. It is senseless. Totally.
The funeral is Friday at 11:00 a.m. I think I will go to the Chevron station so someone will be THERE continually paying their respects to this fine Deputy, Father, Son, Friend,, et.al.
I don't want to forget Harris County Deputy Sheriff Darren Goforth. I just know he would not want his death to be in vain.
May you RIP knowing that others will take it from here.
I hope something "good" comes from the untimely death of absolutely one of the finest we had to offer. I feel he wishes the same.
God help us all, Darren is in good hands.
