Full Notification

The funeral of Lakeland Police Officer Arnulfo Crispin will be Streaming (Live) on the Blue Alert WebSite starting at 9:52am (Eastern) on Tuesday, December, 27, 2011.

www.BlueAlert.us

The United States Honor Flag will be sent to Orlando, Florida from Miami-International Airport with extraordinary reverence to honor the 157th police officer in the United States killed in the line of duty. "Sadly this year Florida is leading the nation in the number of officers killed by gunfire. Seven officers have been killed by gunfire this year alone in Florida. We can not go into 2012 without seriously taking absolutely every step to needed keep our officers safe. Regardless of economic price, budget, and/or strain, Florida cops can not continue to die on the streets of the nations "Sunshine State". Said U.S. Honor Flag Founder and President, Chris Heisler. " Leaders of Florida, take notice and protect those who protect the nation" added Heisler.

The U.S. Honor Flag Honor Guard Commander Captain Mark Causey, the Miami-Beach Police and the Miami-Dade Police Department will coordinate the outbound flight logistics. The outgoing American Airlines aircraft will be given a special "Shower of affection" on departure. Honor Guards from the South Florida area will present the U.S. Honor Flag to the Pilot.

Arrival in Orlando, a larger group of Honor Guard officers lead by Polk County Sheriff's Office, Orange County Sheriff's Office, Orlando Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol. Assisted by Lakeland Police, the United States Department of Homeland Security, TSA, and other numerous local police and public safety agencies.

Collectively they will greet the pilot with ultimate reverence in respect to the precious treasure the pilot will hand deliver inside the Orlando International Airport.

An additional tribute to Officer Crispin will be the U.S. Honor Flag Memorial Gloves. The memorial gloves are worn by select Honor Guard members that will hold the U.S. Honor Flag during the funeral services. These gloves upon interment of Officer Crispin will be presented to the surviving family. U.S. Honor Flag Memorial Gloves are used only for holding the U.S. Honor Flag and are exclusively presented to survivors and/or or those whom have demonstrated extraordinary acts towards those in service to American citizens. Around the nation gloves have been archived in Presidential Libraries and in numerous museums. The United States Honor Flag Memorial Gloves will be escorted by law enforcement officers from South Florida to Lakeland. MDPD Honor Guard Officers will lead the motorcade along with other Broward and Miami-Dade County and Municipal Honor Guard units from the Miami-Dade Police Department Headquarters. Motorcade is expected to leave around 12:00 PM Monday December, 26, 2011.

Shortly after September 11, 2001, Chris Heisler was gifted a flag that flew over the Texas Capitol in memorial of 9-11 by the Texas House of Representatives. He was so moved by the tragedy of that day, the grit of our nation's first responders and the will and patriotism of the American people that he was inspired to go to Ground Zero and take the flag to honor those American living the tragedy. Along the way, Heisler - a private citizen - helped organize what would become one of the longest police motorcades in our nation's history. What began in Dallas, Texas as a group of twelve arrived in New York as a group of thousands of uniformed police, fire, EMS, and federal agents from more than 20 states in a motorcade that stretched for miles.

Looking back on the procession Chris Heisler says "I knew that this flag had a bigger mission... that there was something more to do. I realized as we reached New York that it wasn't "my" flag anymore; it was OUR flag." In addition to representing American freedoms, liberty and ideals, this one Flag also represented the honor and sacrifice of those in uniform and the gratitude we should bestow on the people who so bravely serve our communities and our nation.

In 2003, Chris Heisler put his career on hold to join the Army where he served in the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq. The Flag was used for memorials and ceremonies for his unit and quickly became known throughout the military and was regularly requested for use at memorials and ceremonies throughout the combat theater during his tour.

This flag is one of several that waved over Ground Zero in the days after 9-11. Today it is known as the U.S. Honor Flag. It has traveled over 5 million miles, attended over 1000 funerals and memorials to honor fallen first responders (fire, EMS, law enforcement and military). It has been to countless public events to raise awareness for these sacrifices and promote a renewed spirit of patriotism, including traveling in the final Atlantis STS-135 space shuttle mission.

The Honor Network is a 501c3 organization founded by Chris Heisler to be the custodian of U.S. Honor Flag providing all security, logistics and support for the U.S. Honor Flag.

The Honor Network works with local first responder agencies all over the United States to coordinate all flag appearances and honor guard services for funerals and memorials for first responders who make the ultimate sacrifice, as well as to public events to raise awareness for their sacrifices and to promote patriotism. Chris Heisler adds, "The Honor Network is grateful to the military and first responder agencies throughout the nation who assist in coordinating all U.S. Honor Flag appearances and who donate their time."