For privacy sake, I won't mention names.

Both cases involve spouses of our employees. The employees are wonderful people. So are the spouses. They give courage and fortitude new meaning to those who watch them deal with this. They may ask, "why me?" privately amongst themselves, but I've not heard it. I have not seen any self pity or whining or shaking their fist at the Lord. What I've seen are brave souls fighting a good fight. Any army in the world would be proud to have them as soldiers. They know how to fight. I pray they'll win. I think they will. We don't know. We can just hope, and pray, and provide what support we can.

One weekend in August, the Academy turned out for the first of two fundraisers. We sponsored, along with the local recreation association, a softball tournament. Fourteen teams signed up for a double elimination event. There were teams from the Canine Enforcement Officers class; several from the Customs students in the criminal investigator training courses; one basic inspector course fielded two teams. Other inspector classes had teams as well. The senior special agents had a team; the inspectors had one too. The FLETC staff had a team, and they were very good. It wasn't free. Every player had to cough up ten bucks. Then in the heat and humidity of southeast Georgia in August, they got the privilege of playing. We made them all pay a dollar for a bottle of cold water or a coke. That helped raise money too.

Employees of the Academy managed to put it all together. They cooked. They organized. They got some goods donated. They played ball. The rehired annuitants helped out. Some employees from the INS pitched in. At least one person from IRS assisted. A number of folks helped umpire the games. That is never a thankful job. Our spectators know how to umpire better than the umpires. And like to tell them so.

Sometimes people paid two dollars for a bottle of water. Twice employees won the 'fifty-fifty' drawing, and put their winnings right back in the pot. One was worth over fifty dollars and the other was worth ninety. Giving that money back got my attention. All that happened taught me a lesson in caring and giving and loving. Although in the law enforcement community we don't like to get sloppy in our ways or express our feelings too openly. It is a pretty macho community down here. But these folks cared. They played in the hot sun, got blisters, and sunburn, and woke up with sore muscles, and kept on going.

One fellow twisted his ankle and was on crutches Sunday. He operated the cash box for the concession. Two of the firearm instructors cooked the hot dogs and hamburgers and barbecue chicken over the hot fire. God knows it was hot all day long. And humid. People elsewhere pay to sit in a sauna bath. Down here you just go outside. Everyone pitched in. They raised a right nice sum for these families. They did it all on their own time. And they don't have too much of that this year, since most are working six days a week.

There is more to come. In a couple of weeks there'll be a raffle, with some real whiz-bang prizes - not the cheap stuff. We think that will raise a lot of money too. It all goes to the two families. It's a good cause.

What was most impressive was the camaraderie. The caring and the giving for fellow employees and their spouses. It makes me proud to be part of this outfit. I'll not soon forget what I saw here this weekend. I don't think anyone who was part of it will soon forget it. Anyone who thinks that bureaucrats are faceless, nameless robots never saw this bunch. They put a human face on the Customs Service.

CDI supervisory inspectors Tracey Hill, Yvette Powell, and Assistant Director Helen Sterling were the main organizers of this event. They were assisted by CDI supervisory inspectors Juan Garcia, Randy McIntyre, Jack Myers, and Mike Smith. They did it all with lots of help from their friends. They organized, they worked, they kept the score board going, they played on the teams, they sold tickets and food, they helped clean up, and supervised the whole shebang. If you've never been supervised by CDI Tracey Hill, it's a life altering experience you need to try sometime. The ladies are angels in disguise. I'd say the guys are too, but then the rest of us would give them grief for at least a year.