BACKING THE BLUE
WE BACK THE BLUE
By Alexandra Tuttle and Patsy Dillingham
Thank you to Martha Hale, UMRWC, who volunteered to pick up lunch for this visit--the entréewas all different kinds of sandwiches on croissant rolls and Chicken Nuggets from Chick-Fil-A (a favorite). Our wonderful volunteers brought water, fresh fruit, veggie platters and many other snacks. Thank You, CCWRC, PWRC, RWRC, UMRWC, MCFRW and MCGOP for all your volunteering, plus your very generous donations, which makes it all possible and successful!! The many hands had the table prepared when the police officers, who were in the middle of a shift change, slowly made their way in the already crowded room--we all clapped and whooped as they entered!! It just keeps getting better and better!!
Even after 5 years of doing the Back The Blue events, in all 6 police districts in Montgomery County, it still feels wonderful with each visit!! We see familiar faces as well as new ones, but the feeling of appreciation and support for the sacrifices these officers make on a daily basis are always the same. What is surprising, although it should not be, is that the officers are so appreciative.!! A simple Thank You for our efforts is great, but the officers note what a morale booster it is to have us come.
It is a small thing that our Clubs and the MCGOP Central Committee do, but one that is meaningful, especially given the Montgomery County Council’s efforts to ‘reimagine policing” in Montgomery County or attempting to pass legislation, such as Council Member, Will Jawanda’s bill--the ‘Freedom to Leave Act’ -- all designed to discourage officers to have all the tools they need to do their primary job for the citizens of Montgomery County -- and that is public safety. One would think that given one of the primary duties of local and state government is public safety, that the all-democrat controlled Montgomery County Council would approach with great gusto. Sadly, for our citizens, they do not!!
While it’s nice to say that the Montgomery County Federation of Republican Women (MCFRW) and the various clubs under it, along with the MCGOP, are the only ones who do this--is just sad. I think we would rather prefer that these officers, who put their lives on the line every day, were celebrated by us all--not just by the Republican Party here in Montgomery County.
So, if you missed the District 1 event, we have one more visit to go. The Back The Blue team will be going to the Maryland-National Capital Park Police on Wednesday, July 31st at 11:30 am, located at 12751 Layhill Road in Silver Spring. We stay only a short time, so as not to infringe upon the officers’ work. Please be on the lookout for the flyers and in the events section of the MCGOP newsletter.