Today a Minnesota community in blue and red mourns the loss of three young men. While you and I woke up this morning with a smile on our face or excitement about something we would do today, the families of three young men woke up with tears staining their pillows.
While you and I woke up knowing that we can hug and kiss those we care most about, the families of three young men woke up with full hearts but empty arms.
While you and I woke up with brothers, fathers, husbands, sons, best friends and cherished co-workers, the families of three young men woke up with an empty place at the table.
These three young men are only cherished memories now and a lifetime of nevers…
They will never be the best man at their brother’s wedding.
They will never be there to protect their little sister.
They will never be there to help their parents as they grow older.
They will never fill the heart of a woman who cherished them as they dreamed of their future together.
They will never teach their child to play catch or watch them score a goal in their Peewee hockey league.
They will never see the way their fellow Police and Fire colleagues mourn in stoic silence for the partner that will only live on through a photo on the wall at the station, someone talked about in hushed, reverent tones by the next generation of officers to put on the uniform.
They will never see their dog sitting loyally at the door waiting for them to return.
They will never know the grieving of complete strangers who, in this moment in time, finally understand what kind of person it takes to run towards danger instead of running away.
Yesterday these three young men woke up with a smile on their face, eager to put on the badge and hop into the squad, knowing that on that day and all the days to come, they could save a life … they could make someone’s life better … they could be the one person who could change the world.
Today, because of the inhuman decision of one person who pulled the trigger on a gun pointed at another living human being, these three young men didn’t wake up.
Instead, all the people they touched in their brief time on earth woke up today with tears in their eyes, and a single question on their lips. Why these three young men? Why did these three young men, … good men, dedicated men, honorable men … why are they no longer here?
Every single day of their career, wonderful men and women across our country choose to put on the badge and go into battle not knowing if today is going to be their last day. They go into battle not knowing what’s behind the door they knock on in response to a call for help. They go into battle thinking that they’re going to solve someone’s problem and make someone’s life better. They go into battle for you and me. To protect and serve. To save a life and to make this world better for all of us, whether we treasure their young lives or not.
These three young men were our neighbors, our friends, our coworkers, our brothers, our sons, our husbands, and our fathers. They are the reason so many of us across the country mourn today. They are the reason to remember that there is good in this world, and there is evil. They are three innocent young men who gave their lives in a senseless act of killing when they were just trying to make someone’s life better.
They are three young men who should never be forgotten and the reason why I stand up and publicly support our law enforcement and first responders.
They are Burnsville, Minnesota Police Officer Paul Elmstrand, Police Officer Matthew Ruge, and Firefighter/Paramedic Adam Finseth.
They were three young men.
Author Barbara A. Luker 