In summer of 2012, my friend Charles
retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation after 26 years of service... so
130 of us made our way to the Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank NJ to honor him and his distinguished career.
His high profile intelligence
gathering and investigative genius on cases that spanned the globe saved
countless lives, thwarted planned attacks directed at innocent citizens inside
tunnels, bridges and across the land. He brought criminals and international
terrorists to justice; and he mentored countless colleagues
throughout their careers.
At this event a single
American Flag was placed in a memory box after it was flown over the U.S.
Capitol Building in D.C., at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma
City, at NJ operations offices in Newark, Ventnor, Red Bank and 104 floors up
at the very top of our new One World Trade Center in Downtown Manhattan.
The flag was presented to him
in the traditional triangular fold and placed under glass after it was raised
by bands of brothers-and-sisters in law enforcement during special ceremonies
held at every field office Charles had ever worked from. They honored
and thanked him as they celebrated excellence of the highest caliber.
Every speaker rose with
emotion to share poignant stories from the silent and dangerous trenches of
their lives to explain how they were inspired by him, his values, work ethic,
knowledge-sharing; as well as how his intense personal interest in their
success motivated all of them.
Our Charles - a humble U-Penn
Wharton Graduate - managed and solved the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing
Case. He and his FBI Team brought Ramzi Yousef, Blind Sheikh Omar
Abdul-Rahman and others to justice for their individual contributions to
the horrific '93 terrorist act that left six fellow citizens dead and 1,042
injured in the rubble beneath the 10-story gaping hole they intentionally
created with explosives from the lower-level parking garage at the World Trade
Center.
He never talked about
his work so it was utterly shocking to hear about his role in solving the 1993
WTC Attack while watching him on TV during a History Channel Documentary that I
found by accident as a result of a channel surfing exercise.
At this retirement party, Charles
was also honored for leveraging his skills and subject matter expertise to help
solve the Oklahoma Bombing case of April 1995 after a 5,000 pound truck bomb
killed 168 innocent people, including 19 children - all under the age
of 6.
As the event drew to a
close, the crowd stood silent and transfixed. Some of us burst into tears
and applause as FBI Leaders detailed and saluted my friend’s tireless work
which helped piece together key elements for the 9/11 Investigation.
Standing among these Giants in Law Enforcement, my life and work on both sides of the Hudson River Corridor had just come full circle. As a speaker, I said "thank you" to Charles on behalf of "faceless mothers and commuters" everywhere. With utmost reverence, I bowed my head in this magnificent banquet hall for the heroes present who wake up every day to protect the health, welfare and safety of citizens like all of us worldwide.
As I headed home moved and
motivated, it was clear to me #ExcellenceAlwaysMatters ~
especially when “The Man is the Motto;” and that Motto is “Fidelity, Bravery,
Integrity.”
TishTrek - 03/27/18
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