Why The Parade?

A friend of mine died in the line of duty.

It wasn't this week, or a few months ago. Tom Fulton, friend and mentor, died on December 9th, 2002, when he left the radio station on a break before returning for post-morning show meetings.

He walked out the front door for a coffee break, and as he stepped out the front steps, he suffered a major heart attack, and likely died before he hit the ground.

He was in his late 50's, but still as vibrant and youthful a man as you might ever meet.

Tom was well known in the community; he worked in the media since the early 60's. Worked at all the major radio stations in the city, and was well loved.

Yet there was no parade where people from all columns of media came to say goodbye. Merely a solemn service, and a tearful goodbye from some of his closest friends and family.

But there is no doubt he died in the line of duty. He was working when it happened. So why no parade?

That's what happened Tuesday near Toronto. A local police officer died, doing his job last week when a minivan rolled over his body, pinning him underneath. A parade was held in his honour. Thousands of police officers, fire fighters, emergency services personnel and military servicemen and women turned out for the procession.

Which led me to pose the question, why do we honour people for doing their job?

Police Officers, fire fighters, emergency service personnel and military servicemen and women all know the dangers of the job. They are often reminded of it in oaths they swear when they join the force. Some police officers are reminded on a daily basis of the dangers of their job.

In fact, ask some members why they got involved in the police force, and they'll tell you its the intense rush of adrenaline that comes with facing death on a nearly daily basis.

So it may stand to reason police officers don't need the pomp and circumstance. It is what they signed up to do. Willingly.

Some have argued that officers give their lives for you and me. They're fighting for a greater cause.

Is an architect designing hospitals, government buildings and housing not working for you and me? If a construction worker dies on site, does that not mean they gave their lives to a greater cause than their own?

Tom didn't sign up to have a heart attack that day at work. He didn't think a major coronary would happen while getting ready to dissect the latest ratings.

Maybe he deserves the parade just as much (if not more) than those who risk their lives in the line of duty of their own accord.