Salt Lake City

**SORRY FOR THE PHOTO DELAY.  WE HAD A HOTEL "GLITCH" LAST NIGHT.  WE ARRIVED IN GRAND JUNCTION TO FIND OUR ROOM HAD BEEN GIVEN AWAY ... DESPITE THE PAID RESERVATION.

 

WE DROVE OVER 3 MORE HOURS, STOPPING AT EVERY EXIT, ONLY TO FIND WE HAD TO GO ON TIL WE FOUND OVERNITE ACCOMMODATIONS.  IT IS COLLEGE WEEK HERE ... NO ROOMS AT THE INN.  AT DAYBREAK THIS MORNING WE WENT TO BED, THUS THE LATE POSTING.  WE ARE INBOUND FOR COLORADO SPRINGS MOMENTARILY.  THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE, AND FOR THE EMAILS CHECKING IN ON US!

 

SLC was a return visit for HeroToHero.  I remember it very fondly, and looked forward to this return. 

 

We had a new contact this year (Robin) and she was as warm and gracious as you could hope.  On short notice she had many members of SLCPD gathered in a room signing our banner and looking at our photos.  There were stars everywhere. 

 

In fact everyone in that department was shining to us.  That includes the SWAT guys who were vacuuming when we came to visit. 

 

PS … Don’t laugh.  For the record, a SWAT guy in SLC can make a vacuum look lethal if he so chooses.  Fortunately for us, they were just great guys with big hearts! 

 

Sharen got a new pin, a SWAT patch, and you know, she somehow looks more confident to us since that visit.  I am a little concerned because I’m starting to see shades of her predecessor in her.  Oh, here we go again!  Sigh.

 

This department knows all too well the connection between soldier and police.  They lost one of their own in 2003, James Cawley was killed in Iraq.  They still honor him.  And there is no doubt that their fallen brother will be remembered.  

 

SLCPD gets our vote once again as one of the friendliest, most supportive police departments in the country . We look forward to many shirts for our heroes from them.  And we are proud to have them aboard. 

 

Right down the road, you’ll find SLCFD.  A beautiful station with a lot of pride for their service.  They sent a shirt over to the police department for us, signed by many members of their department.  We hope this is first of many and they will team with SLCPD and other first responders in their area in a true show of support for our troops. 

 

Thanks for spending time with us.  Know you guys were busy and probably as tired as we are.  Get some rest and we’ll see you again. 

 

Our stop in SLC was at the Red Robin.  We have been sending their silly birthday glasses to the troops in the desert for about 3 yrs now.  We call it Operation Iraq'n'Robin.  So seeing a Red Robin Restaurant off the side of the highway as we headed south, was perfect.  We want to thank manager, Josh, who treated us to dinner.  Always good food!!!  Thank you all, and keep those glasses coming.

 

lj