Son of Orlando police officer killed in Afghanistan
ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Orlando Police Officer Rick Rushing knew that when Army personnel showed up at his door on Veterans Day, the news was not good. His 25-year-old son, Teddy, had been killed by insurgents in Afghanistan.
"I knew what they were going to tell me," he said. "It does seem unfair, but that is the price of freedom."
Rushing and several other soldiers came under attack. There was an explosion and Rushing was out front. He was the only American soldier killed in Afghanistan on 11-11-11.
"There is nothing you can do to prevent something like this. It's your time."
What haunts Rick more is the not the timing of the day, but the time of his son's death.
"Ten o'clock our time, Friday, on Veterans Day, and for some reason, I looked down at my watch to see what time that was Afghanistan time, and it was stuck at '10:00.' I haven't been able to get it going since. It stopped when it happened to him."
Rick Rushing as been on the police force for twenty years. He knows the risks, but no parent expects to outlive their child. He survived two decades as a cop. His son only survived two months in Afghanistan.
Still, he says, "I am at peace. I had him for 25 years. I'd rather have him for that than not at all."
Teddy Rushing's casket will be flown to Orlando this week where he will receive a police escort. Two memorial services are planned, one for Saturday one for the following Wednesday.
An account set up for family with checks payable to:
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 25
c/o Rushing Family
or CNL Bank account #3060332
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