I love kids.
So my favorite part of the Law Enforcement Appreciation Banquet held last Thursday night is when we recognize the essay winners from each elementary school. This year they outdid themselves.
Jordan Barnett and Parker Kleppinger were our winners from Spring Hill. Jordan wrote: “The town could do something annual for the police officers called ‘Officer Hurray Day.”
Parker added this about the men and women of law enforcement, “I realized they are more than your friends. They are Every Day Heroes!”
Elizabeth Jowers wrote the winning essay from Peeples Elementary. Secretary of State Karen Handel, who spoke at the banquet, was impressed enough to quote Elizabeth’s opening lines: “Need help? There are people just a phone call away, ready to give you a hand. Who are these people? Police Officers!”
Savannah Laux wrote an excellent paper that took the honors for Huddleston Elementary.
Her essay began this way: “What would we be without law enforcers? The ones that protect and watch over us. Like angels watching over their people. Like heroes always defeating the villains, with integrity and strength.”
Stephanie Okpala, from North Fayette Elementary, cut to the chase this way, “Police are very important people and [a] big part of our community and help us a lot and save lives.”
Caroline Peck won the contest in Brooks. After recounting a motorcycle crash she had seen, she said this: “The policemen had saved their lives. They were heroes. That moment was one of the most caring things I have ever seen in my life.”
Rebecca Wanderman of Crabapple Lane wrote about a time when she was in a car accident. She stated that “four policemen and two ambulances came and rescued my little brother, who almost died.”
The winner from Peachtree City Elementary was Denver Williams. He wrote: “Law enforcement officers are a colossal help. Without them, the world would be a crime-infested madhouse… Some cities have too much crime and they could use a Batman, Spiderman or whatever. But these officers can be heroes, too.”
Nino Young from Oak Grove stated the theme for the night when he wrote, “I sincerely want to thank you for all you do in our country, our community, and in our personal lives…I would really, REALLY like to thank you for all you do.”
Tyrone Elementary produced two of the best essays I’ve seen in the three years that we’ve had this contest.
Listen to the insight of Chandini Kannan: “I’m a girl with many dreams. My dreams would have been crushed if Law Enforcement wasn’t there. I am grateful, thankful and very lucky to have such great police officers in Fayette County. To show all the police officers out there how much they mean to me, there is something I want to say. ‘To the World you might be plain human beings, but to one plain human being you might just be the World!’ Thank you so much Law Enforcement!”
Carlye Jones, also from Tyrone, took home the award for the entire circuit. I’ll leave you with her words: “The bravest, toughest and most courageous people are in the Law Enforcement.
They are the people who will be treasured by God and by America’s people. If you think that the Law Enforcement is for you, give it a shot and become one of America’s great super heroes. I would like to put this paper in memory of all of the loved ones who have died doing their great deed in the Law Enforcement.
“I also thank and treasure all the ones today who stand tall and strong and hope that they can live on and help many people in the future!”
(Ballard is the district attorney for the Griffin Judicial District which includes Fayette County)
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