The news today is filled with the story of a 32 year old Police Officer who was dragged to his death in York Region by a 15 year old driving a mini-van.
The fallen officer leaves a wife and two young children ...
The story hit a nerve ...
It was forty three years ago today that my dad, Constable Sam Ankenmann put on his uniform and left for work. He was working nights.
A family friend has told me that his last memory of Dad was looking through the front window of our living room and spying Dad sleeping in the chair with me nestled on his chest. Rob was playing with Scott on the front porch and shortly after peeking through the window he was called home ... Dad put me in my crib, then headed for work ...
He never came home. Instead in the early morning hours of June 29th 1968, his fellow officer raced to the accident scene, and tried in vain to save his life ... later they would inform Mom and our family ... and 43 years later it still hurts to think about that horrible day ...
Waking this morning to the news that an officer had fallen on duty reminded me that in moments like this we are ALL family, and the fallen are heroes in life, not death.
My thoughts and prayers for the family and comrades of the fallen officer ... they are on a long and lonely journey ... but fortunately, they are not alone!
