We Remember

It is January 30th, and today marks the 8th year of the tragic killing of Upper Darby Police Officer Dennis McNamara. This year, Dennis was again remembered with a brief memorial service at Arlington Cemetery in Drexel Hill PA. Of course we had to stop by and we saw the usual faces….cop friends, detective buddies, local politicians, a reporter that we have become friendly with, and of course Dennis’ widow and two kids were all there not to mourn, but to remember, embrace, and celebrate a life.

The below poem was read today and although I have seen it before, it seemed to resonate a little deeper and louder with me today. I like this poem. I like the message. I think all of the things that I have been talking about for the last several years are nicely summarized in these words. So, I am passing it along.

You can also click HERE to see more of my thoughts on Officer Dennis McNamara, the father, the husband, the cop, and the hero.

IF

By Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!