Dear Mom and Dad,

I have grown up different from most kids my age and that is something that I will be forever grateful for. I have always been taught to respect people and that the police are NOT your enemy. I have seen that there can be bad eggs in law enforcement which can cast a bad shadow on law enforcement as a whole. For the past eighteen years of my life, I have been raised by two police officers as parents and I am extremely proud of them.

Growing up I would see both of my parents getting ready for work when they put on their uniforms, got their radios, and unlocking the safe to grab their guns when my siblings and I were not around. I would look at them in awe and think about how cool it is to have just not one, but TWO parents who are police officers. When I was younger I knew the routine. My parents would go to work and then I would go to school. After school when I would come home, they too would be shortly coming home. As a child, I never thought about the fact that it was possible for them to not come home. Nowadays when my parents leave for work there is a constant worry and presence of anxiety because we are living in a society where there is a heavy anti-police sentiment. This is something that breaks my heart, because my parents and thousands of other men and women, risk their lives every day only to be targeted by police haters when they go out on the streets to protect and serve our society.

For me, it is emotionally draining to constantly see headlines saying "Officer Shot and Killed". I have learned that the media is what sets gasoline to the fire in the war on police. The media has proven to me that they are a true enemies when it comes to the men and women who wear blue.

I pray everyday to Saint Michael for not only my parents, but everyone else out there who wears their badge with bravery. I pray that they will be able to make it home to their families safely so they will not have to endure the heartbreak that many families have had to face in this war on police.

My parents have worked many long, hard shifts in order to provide for my three siblings and I. They have had to work holidays when other families all get to be together. I remember the various Christmases where we would wake up either early to open our gifts or late so that my dad would be able to be there with us. We have waited to celebrate birthdays until my mom got back from being paged out in the middle of dinner right before cake. My siblings and I have grown up like many other kids who understand that when your parents are members of law enforcement their jobs are extremely demanding. With this being said, my parents have always been dedicated to making it home from work for my siblings games (I was never overly athletic, but they have always been there when I needed them as well). Whether it was one of my brothers many hockey, football, or lacrosse games, or bringing my sister to one of her basketball or field hockey games, my parents would always find a way to be there.

I am forever grateful for everything that my parents do for not only me, but all of those in the City of Boston. Thank you for teaching me to be a good person and also a leader. I know that I would get mad when I would not be able to go places when I was younger, but now that I am older, I understand the many dangers that the average citizen would be unaware of. Thank you for being my heroes and number one supporters. I do not know where I would be without the two of you.

Love always,

Bridget