Mesquite Police Officers and their spouses will be honored at a Mesquite Ministerial Alliance luncheon on Oct. 19 and presented Thin Blue Line Shields of Strength scripture-inscribed dog tags by US (Ret.) Army Col. David Dodd representing Point 27, an Atlanta, Georgia-based global nonprofit.
“We are living in a time when it is truly difficult and a challenge to be a peace officer in law enforcement across our nation,” MMA President and Mesquite Mayor Pro-Tem Daniel Aleman said, “And we simply want our officers to feel the full strength of support from our faith base community for the work they selflessly do in serving and protecting our community and the city of Mesquite.”
Local dignitaries attending the luncheon include Mesquite Police Chief Charlie Cato and city of Mesquite’s Mayor and council members.
Keynote speaker for the luncheon is U.S. (Ret) Army Col. David Dodd, director of Point 27. Dodd will present the Thin Blue Line Shields of Strength to police officers during the meeting and Thin Blue Line Angel Wing Charm Necklaces to spouses of the officers.
“We hope the scripture on the Shields of Strength encourages these law enforcement officers, who are making and have made tremendous sacrifice for their communities,” Dodd said. “We are forever grateful for these brave men and women in law enforcement, and we are presenting the Thin Blue Line Dog Tags to thank the officers for their putting their lives on the line to protect Americans. The dog tag is engraved with a Bible verse and serves as a physical reminder that God is with them day and night as they patrol and protect the streets of their communities.”
“We recognize the sacrifice police spouses make and hope the Angel Wing Necklace will encourage them,” he said.
The face of the Thin Blue Line Shields of Strength shows an engraved silver American flag face designed with one flag stripe of blue. The back of the dog tags is inscribed with Matthew 5:9,” Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
The Angel Wing Charm is designed with a thin blue line on the front of the wing and inscribed on the back with Psalm 91:11, “He shall command His angels to protect you wherever you go.”
In 2001, Dodd commanded a battalion of the first U.S. troops deployed to Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in the weeks following 9/11. He wore a Shield of Strength dog tag necklace engraved with Joshua 1:9, and equipped each soldier in his command with the scripture-inscribed dog tag necklace to wear alongside their government-issue dog tags.
After 27 years of military service, Dodd retired and founded Point 27 point27.org, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that honors members of the military, veterans and first responders; and families of fallen soldiers and first responders with scripture-inscribed Shields of Strength like the ones that encouraged him and his troops during his military service.
Aleman said this luncheon will be the Mesquite Ministerial Alliance’s first such luncheon to honor police officers, and the MMA plans to schedule an honorary luncheon for the Mesquite Fire Department with presentations of Thin Red Line Shields of Strength to the firefighters.
Opening the luncheon, members of the Junior ROTC, Horn High School, will present the colors and lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
Article is a Staff Report by Star Local Media