Life Behind the Badge: Heroes Remembered June 30th

They were just putting on their vest for work that day.  They kissed their family goodbye and pulled off in their car to begin their shift.  The thought on their minds could have been that they wished that they had a little bit more time with their family.  The thoughts could have been on their plans the following weekend with family and friends.  They could have been thinking about how they were going to do on their next evaluation.  They could have been thinking about where to get dinner after shift with their partner.  How many others are like that day in and day out?  How many think about everything except for the fact that they could possibly not make it home that night?

Unfortunately as we all know, some didn’t actually make it home.  In May we remembered as a nation, the awesome sacrifice that was made for our safety.  The last day of June, another organization remembers fallen officers by making a climb up 50 high points.  Cops On Top has been an instrumental sounding piece for officers and their families by remembering them in a unique way.

My husband is actually driving with his father to South Dakota to climb that state’s highest peak with some local officers there.  He usually climbs the highest peak in Nevada.  Not only was he pulled and intrigued by climbing somewhere he has never been, he was also pulled in by the story of the two brave men they are doing the climb in memory for on the 30th.  Each man had different stories but they had one thing in common.  They put their lives on that line that we never want to have to cross.

Officer Ryan McCandless and Officer Nick Armstrong of the Rapid City Police Department were killed by gunfire while they were questioning some subjects that were acting suspiciously.  One of the subjects opened fire on the officers and was wounded himself by the officers.  Luckily, the subject was taken into custody.  Officer McCandless and Officer Armstrong left behind a life of great future and opportunity as well as cut short a life that could have done so much more for the community.  The climb in their memory I am sure will be full of memories, tears, sadness, laughter and reflection but it is something that they are honored to do for them.

These are just two of the officers being remembered during the Summit For Heroes on June 30th.  If you are interested in going on any of these climbs this coming Saturday in your state, feel free to go to the website www.copsontop.com and find out how you can participate.  If you can’t, you can still stop by the website to see how the states’ did in their endeavor.  Speaking from personal experience, it is a time you will never, ever forget.  What an awesome way to remember our heroes.  Your life will be changed for the better!

May we never forget.

Kristen Wallitner has been in love and married to her LEO husband for 16 years and they have 2 children, ages 8 and 5.  They do a lot of hiking and outdoor things as a family.  Kristen is also very interested in running, gardening, writing, and cooking, studying her Bible, and spending time with family.