Dear Editor:

Within the past few days’ publications there have been several articles about the donations being made towards the victims of Geneva and Coffee County’s tragedy from last Tuesday. The amount of support our community has extended should be commended and everyone who took part, even if it were not monetary, should feel as if we did an outstanding job. I’m sure these families are very appreciative of any help that can be offered.

With that said, Mr. Blaine Wilson and WAAO, who started this entire organization of taking donations for not only Deputy Myers but the other victims as well, should be applauded. I have known him well enough to know that Mr. Wilson did not do this for himself. He did not do this to benefit his business. He did this out of his good heart.

He has an amount of kindness in himself that you do not see on a day-to-day basis. He is giving, kind, and would do what he could to help someone in need. I don’t think when this began that Blaine had any idea this would turn out as wonderfully as it has. These families are struggling with the loss of their loved ones and because of Mr. Wilson’s efforts to organize and encourage the people of this community, we can now help all of the victims’ families and hopefully lessen some part of the grief they are suffering. All of the help was made available because of Mr. Wilson and WAAO.

As a family member of law enforcement officers, I can only continue to commend the efforts of Mr. Wilson not only as a business owner but as a former LEO also. The LEO’s here are a close group of individuals not only with those here but with those in other counties and states as well. Some of the closest friends will be officers you attended the academy and certification classes with.

There have been many comments and stories circulating of Mr. Wilson’s efforts to help only the Deputy’s family. This being untrue, as explained by Mr. Wilson on several occasions, I still do not see why there has to be those who criticize someone with such a good heart. What he did was courageous. What he did took a lot of time and effort to organize. With his schedule at work, at home, and his involvement with other local civic organizations, there was nothing saying that Mr. Wilson had to do this.

This came from his heart and not only does he have the heart of a husband, father, son, brother, and friend but he has the heart of a police officer. He knows first hand on how his job affects his family.

There have been comments made regarding Deputy Myers — that when he took the job he knew what it entailed. Sure, all officers know what it entails to get up and go to work and not knowing what intoxicated individual you deal with may or may not attempt to do to you or someone else. But he did not take the job and say he was willing to lose his family, or deserve the disrespect of a few in this community for the shame they are trying to put on the members of this area for helping.

All the victims of this tragic event deserve the same amount of respect. Even Deputy Myers. Let these families grieve. I can only hope that Mr. Wilson will continue his efforts to help these individuals and families. This is when we can help the most.

So, next time you see Blaine or any of the WAAO staff tell them good job. Because what they did is amazing. I doubt any of us would’ve done anything on our own or without the encouragement of him and his staff. Good job Blaine and WAAO staff, you did the right thing. It’s nice to see something so good come out of something so bad.

I end with this quote from Theodore Roosevelt: “It is the doer of deeds who actually counts in the battle for life, and not the man who looks on and says how the fight ought to be fought, without himself sharing the stress and the danger.”

Brandy Holmes-Smith

Stanley Community