Nurses, police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, teachers – we’re all connected. We devote our lives to the public, complete strangers. We vow to protect and serve them. The thin blue line of police service is much different from nursing, I imagine. Whereas nurses work in teams to ensure people live, police officers often work in team to ensure one another lives, in addition to the people involved in their calls. Nurses don’t often think of dying at work. My husband doesn’t worry about me losing my life as I serve others. Police officers serve and protect, sometimes with their own lives. A courageous and noble calling and profession, for sure.

Yesterday the Austin, Texas, community said goodbye to Senior Officer Jaime Padron, a local police officer and former U.S. marine, killed in the line of duty last week. Thousands attended his funeral – a sea of formally dressed public servants. His funeral procession, reportedly 18 miles long, paraded throughout the city as people lined the sides of closed highways to pay honor to the fallen hero. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters – six and ten years old.

Thank you, Officer Padron, for your service. Rest in peace.

Thank your fellow public servants today.