Police Explorers

Shane just got back from a tough but really great week at Police Explorers camp. They ran 5 miles a day and did as a group 1000's of push ups. Shane was one of only three kids to do 220 sit ups at one time. Here is a link to an article on their camp.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008806250396

This link has a neat story and a video you can watch of Shane and the other Explorers at camp. We're very proud of you Shane! Way to go.

Graduation Day March
There were 3 teams and each team had to carry these timbers wherever they went.
Lined up in formation.
I didn't get a lot of pictures of the graduation ceremony because they had Lil' Vance and me on stage so that he could give his brother his award. I tried snapping this photo of Shane receiving the Tough Man award. It was a little tough because they were only about 2 feet away from me on the stage. Here Officer Pete is handing Shane a Buffer Pusser "Big Stick". This had been signed by Buffer's daughter Dwana when she came to speak at their camp earlier in the week.

After graduation they lined up again in formation one last time.

Shane with Officer Pete looking proud. Just this last Monday Shane and I were out mowing our neighbor's yard when I looked up to see a Sheriff's patrol car pulling in. Officer Pete had been driving by when he saw Shane so he turned around to come say Hi. It gave our neighbor Lorelle quite a thrill to have the a Sheriff's car in her yard until I explained that this was Shane's Police Explorer's Camp instructor. Officer Pete is a super nice guy, and he has a huge heart for these kids.

Shane with Officer Greg, half way through the ceremony Officer Greg became very emotional and had to leave the stage. It was neat to see that all of the people involved in this program really enjoy working with the young people.

Shane hanging out with the big shots. That's a National Guard recruiter he's talking to along with Officer's from the Sheriff's department and Mount Juliet's police officers. Wilson County's Chief of Police handed out the awards and personally shook both Lil' Vance and Shane's hands.

When all was said and done Shane loved it. He thrived on 5 mile a day runs and so many push ups he lost count. When he got home he crashed and slept until 11 the next morning. He would have probably slept later, but the phone rang and woke him up. He says he can't wait to do it again next year.