It is not like me to send out e-mails like this but then this was not

like any other day.

 

You see though I have enjoyed living here and had no doubt that this was

a good move for us, it is still Vegas. A town built on sex, liquor,

drugs, and greed. A town that many say has no character or culture of

it's own.

 

Over the past two weeks we have seen a Security Officer shot during a

botched casino robbery. Luckily he survived, then a week later two

Metro Police Officers were shot at a domestic call with one dying--- the

first police line of duty death in 18 years. The subject was taken care

of Vegas style, shot by the PD 42 times. They knock the Texas death

penalty but then now I know why. They do not waste the time or our

money on a trial for Cop killers here. Needless to say the past few

weeks have been filled with extra training and evaluation of tactics on

the Strip. Then came today.

 

Today was the fallen officer's funeral. A day that this town of greed

showed its true colors. You see, as you may guess, the Strip only

closes for three hours on New Years Eve, and nothing else. At least

that was the rule. On this day the strip closed for over an hour while

a funeral procession with an estimated 2000 police vehicles from across

our region made their way down the Strip. The streets were lined like a

parade by locals, visitors, casino employees and security teams wishing

to pay their respects. The coveted marquis all displayed condolences

for the officer as all the music stopped and the Strip was silent. The

world famous fountains at the Ballagio stopped dancing and reduced their

flow to a calm and peaceful arch as the procession approached. As the

casket and limos holding the family passed, all of the high powered

water canons that usually create their magic allure began to shoot water

some 250 feet in the air, filling the entire ten acre lake that is their

home with a mist, while their booms echoed through the silent streets--

met only by the sounds of the bell towers at the Bellagio and the

Venetian. It was a sight and seen that was truly touching and emotional.

 

As the procession passed the airport it entered the freeway were the

bridges were lined with onlookers who were literally showering the cars

with flowers that they were tossing down on them. All of this started

at 9:30am this morning and the time here is now 5:00pm and the

ceremonies are just now ending. The whole thing was broadcast live and

uninterrupted on local TV.

 

It was amazing to see this town that lives and dies taking care of

outsiders say, for this one day, 'to hell with that, we take care of our

own' . The more amazing part is that those who were visiting simply

said ok. Love or hate how this town was built and what it may stand

for, this day truly showed me that this is one hell of a great town.

Merle