The time was right to bring the defenders of our freedom together to honor one of their own, especially since they were under attack across the nation. The poignant occasion was to honor Sgt. Thomas Brennan with the blessing of a mortgage-free home. This was the culmination of a three-year effort on the part of Gene Frogale, incoming President of SBCA, and the Capital Area Chapter of the SBCA.
Sgt. Brennan was defending our nation until being seriously wounded in Afghanistan. Yet, he and his family were paid tribute by our local defenders, the Culpeper, Virginia police force, led by a decorated honor guard.
The stirring setting was a rural Virginia community, but it could have occurred in most of America. And what made this ceremony doubly significant is that neighbors, friends, and we suppliers were gathered amongst our defenders.
Fifty years ago, the shoe was on the other foot; it was the U.S. Military being attacked, as I found out returning from overseas duty. However, those dark days passed, as will the current wave of attacks on our police. But throughout its history, our industry has remained steadfastly behind these defenders. Because without uniformed citizens to protect the property that we service, who would risk building a home? Kenny Shifflett, owner of Ace Carpentry and one of the principal benefactors of Sgt. Brennan’s home, challenged us to spread the word so that “… we have more people in this country that understand the value of our police and military.”