MYSTERIOUS AMERICA

Morton’s BMW Motorcycles Presents Dr. Seymour O’Life ’ s MYSTERIOUS

AMERICA

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Although I do my best to find things that make you wonder or go bump in the night, this column Mysterious America finds humans’ wondrous ability to create one of the greatest mysteries, especially when it is the creation of something that is emotionally moving to the artists. Something that, for their own reasons, has caused the spark of imagination to turn into a flame. In the tiny town of Clayton, North Carolina, there is a gray brick wall that runs along a public building. It would not be much different from the building down the block, in the next town or state but, here in Clayton, this wall is far different than all others. The sculpture is called “Cornerstones. ” As you approach, you begin to absorb and your eyes open up to what is before you. And, when you realize what it is and know this sculpture’s story, the emotions can be recognized and, for some, can be the beginning of another journey of feelings. Let me explain… “Cornerstones” was sculptured by Christian Karkow and portrays the void left when a police officer dies in the line of duty, creatively conveyed by slabs of slate, pushed out to form a kind of pixelated policeman. The “rocks” are water-jet bluestone slate stacked to configure a larger-than-life Clayton Police Officer. The memorial is adjacent to the police department’s roll-call meeting room where officers meet each morning to discuss cases and get their assignments. The sculpture is a representation of that officer stepping out into the community to protect and serve. Inside the building the inverse of the figure is found, creating a void where the officer had been. Adjacent to the void are the names of the officers no longer a part of the community.

The memorial thereby creates two distinct spaces: one for public commemoration and one for private contemplation. It is stunning, sad, and uplifting all at the same time. Clayton itself has a long history of great art and each year they have a Sculpture Trail throughout the town featuring artists from the region and around the nation. Adding all this with the phenomenal “Cornerstones” makes Clayton a great town to visit while riding in the Tar Heel State. But, while we are considering the great mystery called art let’s get on the bikes and head west – 1,500 miles west to the Texas town of Odessa. Here there is a sculpture dedicated to the police that is truly magnificent –especially if you believe in angels – the Arch Angel Michael, in particular. A little bit about angels… Angels are mentioned many times throughout the Old and New Testament, from God revealing the Ten Commandments to Moses and saying, “Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared” (Exodus 23:20-21) to the angel Gabriel delivering the message to the Virgin Mary that she would carry the Son of God, and beyond. Angels bring us a sense of peace and security. How awesome is it to know that as the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. ” While there are countless angels, Gabriel, Raphael, and Michael are the only angels referred to by name in the Bible. These angels were each entrusted with extraordinary missions and played a specific role in how our salvation would play out. St. Michael, also known as an archangel (an elevated angel), is called “Prince of the Heavenly Host, ” and is considered the leader of the angels. As a police officer’s role is to protect the public from the activities incited by the devil, it is absolutely natural that Saint Michael is the Patron Saint.

In the town of Odessa, the Odessa Peace Officers Memorial Foundation presented its monument in honor and memory of the five fallen Odessa Police Department officers: Corporal Gordon Terry Toal, Officer Scott Stanton Smith, Corporals Arlie “Lee” Jones Jr., John Scott Gardner, and Abel Renteria Marquez. Since October of 2007, the Foundation worked very diligently to raise money to build a monument in memory of the officers that were ambushed in September of 2007 while responding to a domestic disturbance. The monument would also honor the two Odessa Motorcycle Officers who died in the line of duty during the 1980’s.

Paul Tadlock of Gruene, Texas, sculpted the statue. It sits atop a 3-foot granite base with bronze nameplates of the fallen officers. Four beautiful benches, airbrushed with the fallen officer’s badges, also adorn the lawn. This is a truly amazing and moving monument and I think we would all be better off if Michael was on our side too. Closer to home there is the Connecticut Law Enforcement Memorial located at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden, featuring a statue representing the eternal flame with the words, ‘Never Forget’ inscribed. In New York, at Empire State Plaza, is the New York State Division

of Criminal Justice Services Police Officers Memorial, which honors federal, state, and local law enforcement officers with a memorial that has 12 granite panels with inscribed names. The memorial contains a quote from the daughter of one of the fallen troopers, which reads, “It doesn’t matter from which department they came, the feeling of loss is experienced the same. ” Once again art has found a way to stir emotions, bring us to think, and remember that police lives surely matter too. ~ O’Life Out!