Legacy MattersLindsey and Nash became friends at the Western Sizzlin Steak House, both dreaming of the day they could fight the bad guys.
Nash was a 23 year old patrolman when he was shot and killed by a driver he pulled over for a traffic violation. Lindsey, the sheriff of Lamar County, wrote a tribute 17 years later for Nash and for all the law officers who help us every day, sometimes risking their lives to do so.
People see the uniform and the badge, and they rarely take time to find out a law enforcement officer's name or look at his or her face.
His tribute to law officers has won national thanks.
Here it is. You Don't Remember Me, Do You..
There's a lesson here for all of us. When someone helps us, whether or not it's part of their job, ask them their name and thank them by their name.
The attitude of gratitude will make them feel appreciated and you feel better. Everyone wants to be seen and appreciated. Everyone.
Do this throughout your day, every day, and I guarantee you'll make the world a better place.
You don't remember me, do you...
I was the one who unlocked your car after you accidentally locked the keys and your baby up at the mall.
I was the one who gave you a ride to the gas station when you ran out of gas on that backroad.
I was the one who changed your tire because you couldn't figure out how to work the stupid scissor jack.
I was the one who directed you safely through that busy intersection when the traffic signals weren't working.
I was the one who gave you a jump-start after you left your lights on.
You don't remember me, do you...
I was the one who found the item that identified the guy who raped your daughter.
I was the one who spent my days off in court to testify and help convict the man who beat your son so badly.
I was the one who located your grandmother in the woods that night when it was 22 degrees and she had wandered away from the nursing home.
I was the one who loaned you the raincoat the night we stood and watched your house burn.
I was the one who talked with you for two hours about your son running away from home.
You don't remember me, do you...
I was the one who held your hand, wiped the blood out of you eyes, and calmed you down while the Fire Department cut you out of what was left of your car.
I was the one who called you at 2 a.m. to come pick up your 16 year old daughterbecause she had been drinking too much.
I was the one who knocked on your door at 4 a.m. to let you know your 16 year old daughter would never be coming home again.
I was the one who did CPR on your 3 year old after you found him in the pool.
I was the one who helped deliver your new baby when you didn't quite make it to the ER.
You don't remember me, do you...
I was the one who got that snake out of your bathroom around midnight.
I was the one who got my knees and elbows scraped up fighting with the shoplifter with your carton of cigarettes.
I was the one who took your son for a "ride-along" so he could see what it was really like.
I was the one who gave you the right directions so you wouldn't miss that business meeting.
I was the one who stopped you to let you know your right rear tire was going flat.
You don't remember me, do you...
I was the one who escorted your son's funeral procession from the church to the cemeteryand cried behind my sunglasses because he was my friend, too.
I was the one watched over your place while you were on vacation.
I was the one who worked for you on Christmas Day so you could be off with your family.
I was the one who joked around with you after your truck got hit by a trainand you walked away without a scratch.
I was the one was able to talk your husband into going into counseling with you.
You don't remember me, do you...
I was the one who got shot when I pulled over a car for a traffic violation and the driver turned out to be an escaped convict who had sworn he would never go back to prison.
Oh, by the way, my memorial service is at 2 p.m.
Will you remember me now?