Rally Stop Meriden, CT
It's morning and we are rushing to pack up and get to our stop today, being we drove until 3 am we are all feeling a little rough, everyone drinks coffee but me, so.....you can do the math. I am looking forward to this stop as it is the museum for law enforcement and contains so much history. It will be a good distraction from all the emotions that are piling up as we travel through the tour thus far.
Donna did a great job with all her visuals and making sure her agenda played out to her perfection. Families, press, law enforcement and guest were all accounted for and the message of the day was revisiting cold cases and the importance of it all. I had time to speak with many folks while their after the program was over while others networked and enjoyed the table of coffee and goodies, it was good as it gave me time to catch my breath.
I met and spoke in private with some families but the one who stuck in me head and heart all day was a Spanish family, they needed help, their story was very sad and they have not been treated with much respect at all. A mother reported her son missing when he did not return from the store and a storm came in beating down on their little home that night, she explains all she went through fighting tears with no success. Then days later a violent crime committed came to light and the media comes to interview people in the neighborhood to get their reaction, only to find out they are speaking about her son. He still has not been found. I held the hand of his broken father and felt every inch of his grief, I made a promise to help them. People who know me, know I do not like making promises always afraid something will happen that will prevent me from keeping my word, I take this very seriously. But I did and I will, they need it!
This song is very fitting for the way I felt for this family
http://youtu.be/evO6GGOkSug
You see the Spanish people who make great sacrifices to travel here seek a freedom we Americans speak of and yes although most come here illegally it does not mean we should not have compassion or treat them as they not worthy. How sad I feel that in most cases, this does play a role in how the case gets worked or if at all. Sadly, because of their status they cannot push their case as they are afraid of what may happen to them. It's not my place to judge, all I know is a child is missing, a crime has happen and a justice needs to be afforded to an innocent boy. The rest can talk amongst themselves.
I briefly walked through the museum and experience a travel back in time, wow how far law enforcement has come in the day of technology, then I came upon the "in memory room". It makes you take a moment to to give honor and read about these strangers who gave their life for our safety and protection, a grim reminder of how cruel this world really is at times. Finally I am looking at the K9 memorial wall, I stand and think of my loss, Heidi and relate to all the officers who lost their K9, I feel burden and then a flood of my my own memories and that I had been through with Heidi as well as our travels together, it becomes more than I need to visit with today, so I leave the museum to get re focused.
All and all it was an awesome stop and I feel time here has made a difference. As we pack up to leave and say our goodbyes I feel a renewed sense of justice for the OLD not cold cases, their are investigators out there that are making the difference and solving them, I remain hopefully today.
Monica Caison LYMI
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