Thank you to Taco John’s Restaurants for the kind donation to The First Responders Foundation!
Pictured (left to right):
Larry Pace
Scott McLaughlin
Ray Somberg
Bruce Newton
Jeff Bremer
Andrew Luethge
Debbie Bremer
Lori Rockwell
Jeff Rockwell
John Stolinski
Wow! Big thanks to Taco John’s (and owners Jeff and Debbie Bremer) for hosting this special for first responders and their families on Sunday, September 11, 2016.
First responders: make sure to swing by a Taco John’s and pick up your discounted meal!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The First Responders Foundation is a nonprofit that works to enhance public safety in our community by providing resources to police officers and firefighters and to show appreciation for their dedicated service.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of 9/11. In partnership with Stinson Park, the First Responders Foundation is presenting Omaha Together, a day-long event to honor the lives lost on September, 11, 2001.
We invite you to join us on Sunday, September 11 at Stinson Park for Omaha’s official day of remembrance. The day will begin with the 3rd Annual Minute of Silence Ceremony. Immediately following will be a day of free family activities to encourage Omahans to come together in honor of the lives lost, reunite as a community, and show appreciation for our first responders.
9:11-9:12am: Minute of Silence Ceremony
9:00am-1:00pm: Farmer’s Market
9:00am-9:00pm: Kids Activities
5:00pm: World Record-Breaking Swing Dance & Tribute Video
6:00pm: Live Concert
9:11pm: Special Tribute
To learn more about the First Responders Foundation, view the press kit. For more information about the event, visit the official Omaha Together Facebook page.
PRESS INQUIRIES
Jim Hanson
First Responders Foundation
402.218.1205
jim@intouchcommunications.com
Bridget Fitzpatrick
Omaha Police Department
402.510.0796
bridget.fitzpatrick@cityofomaha.org
Practicing hour after hour and day after day. There was to be no room for error and their mission was accomplished. Who are they? They are the men and women of the Omaha Police Honor Guard and Pipe & Drums and they were on full display in Washington DC for National Police Week.
For them, this year was special. This year they were in DC to represent one of their own, fallen Officer Kerrie Orozco, EOW May 20, 2015. The OPD Honor Guard and Pipes and Drums were given special duties this trip. They were chosen for an elite ceremony at the Pentagon. They would carry the United States Honor Flag to the Pentagon Police to fly at the Pentagon in Kerrie’s Honor. The flag would fly on the same flag pole that remembers those killed on Sept 11, 2001. Later in the week, the Honor Guard was also chosen to present a wreath with Kerrie’s name on it at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Two sacred places, two sacred ceremonies with an Honor Guard and Pipes and Drums group that allowed no room for error. They would be the best of the best representing Officer Kerrie Orozco and the dignity of the entire Omaha Police Department. This task they did not fail, in fact, they excelled.
It’s hard to find the words to describe what it feels like to be in DC with tens of thousands of officers all in their dress uniforms. To look at them and know they were there because, like Omaha, they lost one of their own.
But DC wasn’t about sadness. It was about remembrance and honor and making sure the world knows these officers gave their all. It was about giving all of the fallen officers the respect that they so rightly deserved. It was about forming bonds that may last a lifetime. It was a brotherhood and sisterhood in an exclusive club that no one really wanted to join. It was about sharing in each other’s pain and moving forward.
The week was about honor and respect and our foundation was privileged to be a part of such a dignified week. It was our duty to bring the message of Support Blue to the men and women who protect us and let them know we have their back. We support them for the job that they do. We will continue to spread the Support Blue message wherever we can and encourage others to do the same.
On May 20, 2016, the 55th Security Forces Squadron will be holding the 6th Annual Police Week Golf Tournament at Fox Run in Council Bluffs. This event is open to all Law Enforcement Agencies around Omaha and teams are first come, first serve. Funds from perks purchased to assist you in play will be donated to the First Responders Foundation.
There will also be a 2016 Chevy vehicle up for grabs for those who make the hole-in-one on a designated par three. Additionally, there will be prizes ranging from golf balls, to bags, to full sets of clubs at designated longest drive and closest to the pin holes. Also gift cards from various companies.
There will also be free food grilled up and free drinks, excluding alcohol, available.
Sign up for a good time and for a good cause with your fellow Brothers and Sisters in Blue!
The First Responders Foundation is excited to be participating in Omaha Gives, a 24-hour online giving event organized by the Omaha Community Foundation to grow philanthropy and inspire the community to come together to contribute as many charitable dollars as possible within the allotted time to support the work of local nonprofit organizations.
Please consider a donation of $10 or more to help us thank Omaha’s first responders by providing materials and equipment and funding other initiatives that support the police and fire departments. We work directly with each chief to fulfill wish lists and prioritize resources so your donation goes where it is needed most.
Omaha Gives culminates on May 25, 2016, but you can schedule your donation now. Every donation is important and helps increase our chances of taking home extra incentives such as participation prizes and hourly giveaways. Thank you for supporting Omaha’s first responders!
First responders embody the very definition of heroism by putting their lives on the line for us each and every day. Police officers and firefighters are the first people on the scene when an emergency strikes. These brave men and women run towards dangerous situations to save and protect the people of our community.
Do you have a police officer or firefighter in your family or circle of friends that you admire for their dedication and want to thank for their service? Has your life been touched or saved by a first responder? Participate in our #ThankAHero campaign by nominating a first responder to be publicly thanked on our website and social media during the month of May! We will be sharing nominations in conjunction with Omaha Gives, telling your stories, and thanking these real heroes for making a difference every day.
You can help spread our message and inform others about the work that we are doing to help our local first responders by sharing our Omaha Gives Facebook posts and tweets!
Follow the First Responders Foundation:
A big thank you to the American Red Cross for organizing the “Honor Your Heroes” blood drives in honor of first responders! By giving blood at one of the following drives, you are supporting the First Responders Foundation’s mission and saying “thank you” to our heroes in red and blue.
May 3 – La Vista Community Center – 1pm – 7pm
8116 Parkview Blvd. – La Vista
May 5 – Bellevue Christian Center – 1pm – 7pm
1400 Harvell Drive – Bellevue
May 6 – Sarpy County Courthouse – 8am – 2pm
(Probation Office) 1261 Golden Gate Drive – Papillion
All presenting donors will receive a Red Cross t-shirt!
The First Responders Foundation is excited to announce that we have launched our new online store! You can now purchase foundation merchandise all in one place. We have rolled out cool new foundation shirts, new #SupportBlue shirts, and all the original #SupportBlue products. Check back often, because we are also working on creating a #SupportRed line to support our firefighters!
Be one of the first 25 people to order a t-shirt and get a free #SupportBlue window cling! Just enter “FreeCling” at check-out. Your high quality cling can endure the outside elements, making it perfect for a vehicle or outdoor window.
Let our first responders know that you appreciate what they do and that they have supporters everywhere and make a purchase today!
Officer Carlie Potts is one of the members of the Omaha Police Honor Guard that will be going to Washington to represent the department. Officer Potts was on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Air Force ROTC Honor Guard for two years from 1999-2000. She presented Colors at Husker basketball games, and participated in Honor Guard competitions. In 2001 she was then transferred to and graduated from Wayne State in 2003.
Officer Potts joined the US Navy Reserve in 2003 and was deployed to Iraq from 2007 – 2008.During her time in the military, she joined the USNR HG and participated in funerals for fallen sailors. Officer Potts shared her most memorable time during her Honor Guard duties. She was a pall bearer for a 21 year old sailor who died in a motorcycle accident and was responsible for the folding and the presenting of the flag to his 20 year old widow. In June of 2006 Officer Potts joined the Omaha Police Department and became a member of the Honor Guard in 2008. Officer Potts met and married Omaha Police Officer Rob Wiley and two children, daughter Reagan almost four and two year old son Kolten.
Officer Potts told us that “Being on the Honor Guard is truly an absolute honor. It was an amazingly humbling experience to be a part of Kerrie’s funeral. I was on the firing party. I never imagined having to bury a co-worker but especially not a close friend. I knew it was a possibility but you don’t think it will really happen. I also have hand the honor of participating for the funerals of Officer Dawn POLLREIS, Officer Greg HAMILL, and Officer Torrey GULLY’S funeral who all were current OPD officers and died off duty.
My favorite part of being on Honor Guard is representing our department at the funerals of retired officers. Most of them are small, and you are in the back ground as a reminder and a thank you to their service.”
Officer Potts went on to say, “I was fortunate to participate in the Police Memorial Week 2015. I thought it was going to be the first and the last time I went. However just a few days after we returned, Kerrie was killed in the line of duty. I knew then I had to be there to represent Kerrie in 2016. My husband, who was also on the Gang Unit with Kerrie, will be going along with our two children, my mom, sister and two nephews. They all were at her funeral and want to be a part of this for Kerrie and for her family. There are MANY of us that not only were coworkers, classmates, crew-mates, but friends of Kerrie and she was our sister in blue. We all want to be there to represent her and be the best we can. It is with pride, support, honor and sorrow that will see her name forever engraved in stone at our county’s capitol. Kerrie gave the ultimate sacrifice and we will represent her true spirit in Washington along with the many other officers who also gave the ultimate sacrifice.
We remember the officers who changed our lives,
the men and woman who protected us day and night.
People who respect for their dedication to the cause,
for when faced with danger they never even pause.
We remember the officers who always stood true,
whatever the color of uniform, brown gray or blue.
With pride and integrity they say “To Serve and Protect,”
for the giving of their life… we offer our respect.
We remember the officers who we never really knew,
persons strong enough to answer the challenge are few.
With heavy hearts we mourn the officers in eternal rest,
there’s so much more to these people than the badge on their chest.
– Author Unknown