Many military soldiers who currently serve or have served among the various United States Armed Forces branches are also law enforcement officers, bringing with them highly valued discipline and skill sets and mindsets suited to a career working the street beat.
In that context, as we pay homage to those who served in the military and laid down their lives on behalf of our beloved nation, Memorial Day at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) in Tampa, Florida is commemorated with the confluence of an actual service-flown American flag offered to the sheriff by one of his deputies.
HCSO Deputy Cody Kleiner concurrently serves as a member of the U.S. Army. This Memorial Day morning/mourning he respectfully presented his boss, HCSO Sheriff Chad Chronister, with a U.S. flag whose fibers contain the din and legacy born of battle, one which will lick at the sky above the sheriff’s office Law Enforcement Memorial in Ybor City, its base of operations.
Per the sheriff’s office announcement, “The flag was flown over a combat zone on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter conducting Medevac operations over Iraq in July of 2019. Deputy Kleiner served as the helicopter pilot. During that mission, a military service member’s life was saved.
“To honor his fellow service members who did not make it home and to thank his fellow deputies who are also dedicated to serving both their community and their country, Deputy Kleiner wanted to gift the flag to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office District III Office where he works.
“We are thankful for the sacrifices of all of our service members, especially those who gave their lives for our freedom. I’m so proud to say that we have several deputies like Deputy Kleiner who are both local law enforcement officers and military members. They are truly dedicated to a life of service.”
To all those courageous warriors who laid down their lives in the name of nation, hats off to you. To those who continue to serve in the military and/or law enforcement, we stand with you.
This piece was written by Stephen Owsinski on May 25, 2020. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.
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