If one falls, we all hurt

The 1st Procession of Lights was awesome despite the circumstances. Such a show of loyalty and love for a fallen officer....If one falls, we all hurt.
It's obvious when you see the brotherhood all together. My 1st one was April 2007 for Corporal Nick Samuel Polizzotto. We were new to the police officer "family"...

Last night was my second Procession of Lights. This time, I know more people around us. These are my husbands co-workers, partners, dispatchers and friends. He is very close to them. He backs them up on calls, they back him up on calls, their K9's search and help him, they meet up for coffee, they go to each other's houses for get-togethers, he exchanges Christmas gifts with them, he knows their families, they call out of the blue to see how he is, they talk about work sometimes and they 'play' together too...Corporal James J. Szuba was one of Aj's friends, he had coffee with him 2 weeks ago...this one hit a little closer to home. Sad, plus Officer K9 Ricky was killed in the accident too. Their dogs are their partners. The procession was 6 miles long, which they say is about 800 vehicles! What a sight to see. We were a little over half way back in the line. As far as I could see ahead and behind us was all lights. The streets were lined with people, eerily quiet, holding candles, flags and signs. There were numerous people with their dogs out too. Jim lived in New Carlisle, where I grew up as a kid, I knew with such a small community it would be crazy to see the turn out....but I lost it. I cried hard through New Carlisle. I don't want to be the family in the lead car or in a procession of someone close to us, but it could happen at any moment. Such an overwhelming feeling of sadness, pride and love...mixture of emotions for me.

There are officers falling at an alarming rate...this isn't uncommon unfortunately...this year there have already been 10 Line of Duty deaths. TEN. It is only January 14th! Ten officers in 14 days!

ugh.