E-Mail me with any questions or comments you may have about the Memorial.
The Tacoma Police Memorial Project: The PoemAs I've said before, the idea of the Thin Blue Line has been my inspiration from the conception of this memorial. While the sculpture in front of Headquarters is a big, bold statement toward this end, the true heart of this project lies more hidden, back within a newly planted grove of trees. The 'inner courtyard' will hold the most precious aspect of any memorial; the names and stories of the fallen.
Originally, the line of cobalt blue glass was going to stand on it's own, but it left a nagging problem for me, what would lead the citizens of Tacoma back into the trees to find and read the memorial itself? The answer was to engrave a poem into the blue glass, something that would captivate the passer-by into stopping, and then following the line to its conclusion. A call for a writer was put out in Tacoma. We received nearly 20 excellent poems! For all of us on the selection committee, it was important to judge these poems on their own merit alone. While we all WANTED the winner to be a officer within the TPD, it was more important to have the Best Poem, and to that end, we stripped all identifying information from the submissions. In the end, we all chose our favorite top three. Our hearts soared when we not only chose the same poem as number one, but that it just happened to be written by an officer! So, without any more ramblings by me, I very proudly present the selected poem. . . "The Thin Blue Line", written by DETECTIVE RANDI GOETZ |
| The Thin Blue Line Just yesterday, you stood so bold, Against the dark, against the cold, You fought the fight, and, Truth be told, Your courage it did shine. You stood with courage, stood with pride, Your passion to help, you could not hide, Your eyes were clear, your heart was wide, Your badge was bright and fine. You gave so much, Then gave your all. We wept to see you take the fall. Yet we remain to take the call, And walk the thin blue line. We'll carry on, and take a stand, Protect and serve across the land. I'll take a child's trembling hand, And hold it safe in mine. Forever, we'll remember you, Our brother, sister, friend in blue, And we'll be strong, till we see you, Somewhere down the line. By Detective Randi Goetz, Tacoma Police Department, 2005 (Please reprint only with the permission of Detective Goetz.) |
E-Mail me with any questions or comments you may have about the Memorial. |