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working Americans will get the support to believe that if they put in a day’s work, they should be able to come home to their families and know that they are being treated appropriately.
Then, the secretary implored all in the hall to take a Labor Day moment of introspection. He asked:
“When you woke up today, did you think about all those peo- ple who make your life a little bit better and a little bit safer?”
And he continued: “Americans don’t stop and think about those people nearly enough. So today, on Labor Day, we should take a step back and think about everybody who makes our lives better and makes our lives safer. And we should celebrate and honor their work.”
After yet another ovation, Acosta had an encore prepared.
“So I leave you with this,” he hailed. “We respect your sacri- fice. We respect your service. You safeguard the nation commit- ted to freedom, freedom that is symbolized by the red, white and men and women in blue.”
Labor Sway
Blair Altenbach, an officer in 009, stood in line to take a post- speech photo with the secretary, and they shared a memora- ble moment off camera. Of course, she was touched by being thanked for her service. And she noted how impressive it was that he was at Lodge 7 showing his support rather than spend- ing the holiday with his family.
But what impressed Altenbach most was the message about waking up in the morning and the people who help you during the day. People like Chicago Police Officers.
“Especially like today, when a lot of people miss their fami- lies,” she declared. “A lot of people like us officers, firefighters and other professions, that are out helping other people, mak-
ing their day safer, and aren’t with their families on holidays.” Some of the other impressions from members after meeting
the secretary included:
“It was awesome,” said 6th District Officer Adrian Dales. “I
love that he endorses that we all have to be united as one, not just officers but state’s attorneys and the judges and everybody.” Terrence Finley from 006 said he would take the message he got from the secretary back to his district: “I would say ‘don’t judge a book by its cover.’ Just because we have a uniform on doesn’t mean we aren’t human. And we just got to, stay together,
work as one. Stay strong.”
Dan Quaid, an officer in 022, hoped that Acosta’s message
would resonate beyond the walls of the FOP Hall. “That Wash- ington has our back,” he noted. “And that local politicians real- ize that and will support us more.”
Rich Mahoney from the 8th District shared the perspective of many members in the room, who were impressed with Acosta’s credentials and his statements about the rule of law. “The rule of law doesn’t mean you need 10 convictions before shoplifting a certain dollar amount can be prosecuted for a felony,” he ar- ticulated. “He was the U.S. attorney. He knows how important it is.”
President Graham perceived how reinforcement for the rule of law consoled members who want to enforce the law but deal every day with other entities of the government that don’t want them to enforce the law. And he saw his members unite around Secretary Acosta and what this day meant to them.
“They were energized by the politicians who support law enforcement and support what we are supposed to be doing,” Graham reinforced. “Today was not about politics. It was about support. It was about supporting the men and women who do a very tough job every day.”d
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