HOULTON, Maine — Prompted by national attention to the alarming number of police officers being shot and killed in the line of duty in recent weeks, a group of about 30 individuals gathered July 27, 2016 in front of the Houlton Police Department to offer prayers and support for local law enforcement.
The group consisted of members from a variety of local churches, who offered prayers and encouragement for the local officers, as well as members of the Houlton Fire and Ambulance departments.
“Even though this is a tiny little town, we are right on the [Canadian] border, we just thought with everything going on with these shootings and meth labs, a little encouragement for our police is never a bad thing,” said Cyndee Randall, one of the event’s organizers.
On July 7 in Dallas, an individual fired upon a group of police officers, killing five officers and injuring nine others. Ten days later, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, three officers were ambushed and killed, with three others wounded. In both cases, the gunmen were reportedly upset with police shootings involving black men.
To honor fellow police officers, the Houlton Police Department has been flying a black and white U.S. flag with a thin blue line. The meaning of this flag, according to www.usflags.com, is “The Blue represents the officer and the courage they find deep inside when faced with insurmountable odds. The black background was designed as a constant reminder of our fallen brother and sister officers. The Line is what police officers protect, the barrier between anarchy and a civilized society, between order and chaos, between respect for decency and lawlessness. Together they symbolize the camaraderie law enforcement officers all share, a brotherhood like none other.”
In addition to saying a prayer outside of the police barracks, cookies with the letters “HPD” and cupcakes with a thin blue line were given to the department.
A symbolic gift bag filled with candy was also given to each officer. A poem on the front of the bag symbolized what each of the various items of candy represented. It included the following:
– Lifesavers to remind you the many times you have been one.
– Smarties to give you wisdom for the split-second decisions.
– Hershey Kiss to show our love.
– Gum to help everyone stick together.
– Tootsie Rolls to help you roll with the punches.
– Peppermint Patties to help you keep your cool.
– Mounds for the mounds of courage you show.
– Laffy Taffy to remind you that laughter is a great stress reliever.
“We wanted to do something to honor, and bring attention and respect for our police officers,” said Cindy Milton, whose husband Tom is a dispatcher with the HPD. “We need them. They take care and protect us.”
