A Thank You To Officer Stephen Tyrone Johns

Carl Wilkens is part of Change.org's Changemakers network, comprised of leading voices for social change.

Many of you might remember this time last year — today actually — when Officer Stephen Tyrone Johns was murdered while on duty at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

In honor of Officer Johns, I want to ask you to do something for his family and for yourself. But first let me say this.

That horrible, horrible tragedy caused me to think again about my attitude toward security officers. Not that I had a bad attitude, it's just that too often I was impatient and critical when going through security checkpoints. (Been flying a lot lately ... come to think of it, that is a bad attitude.)

With the news of Officer Johns' death, I thought about so many different things, including how it must have been when he left for work that morning.

"Just another day at work.” Yet he didn't come home. (To his family and friends, again I want to say I'm so very sorry.)

I gained a deeper respect for those who are willing to take the risk that security officers face everyday. It has changed the way I think and act toward them. I can't tell you how many times since then I've told security officers, "Thank you for what you do."

And now it's our turn to take this opportunity to extend a long overdue "Thank you" to Officer Johns’ family for the gift Officer Johns gave. His was the greatest sacrifice anyone can make — their life for the safety of others. Officer Johns continues to give by inspiring us to respect others.

We can demonstrate that respect now by saying "Thank you."

So here is an opportunity to take a moment and click on this link, and write something as simple in the box as "Thank You" to Officer Johns' family.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons