AND HE SHALL RISE
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 All the world will long remember the terrorist attack that
occurred on September 11, 2001. On that day, terrorists hijacked four passenger
jets for a suicide mission that had been years in the planning.The people who did this hate the United States for many reasons
which you will -- you must -- learn about as you grow up. That is because the world
you grow up in suddenly became a different place on that day.On that September 11, in the public mind, international terrorism
joined international drug trafficking and organized crime in an unholy trinity of
threats to the American people and to our cherished heritage of freedom, tolerance
and democracy.When the towers of the World Trade Center came crashing down that
morning, over three thousand people died. The dead included many firefighters and
police officers. One of the latter was a much-loved cop named Charles M. Mills, known
as Charlie to one and all.Charlie was the very model of a community police officer. He
reminded me of another story from the Arabian Nights -- that of the Caliph, or ruler,
of Baghdad, a man named Haroun al-Rashid, who used to disguise himself as a beggar
and go about the city at night to learn first-hand about the cares and problems of his
people. Charlie was like that, although, of course, he didn't disguise himself.I got to know Charlie when he served the people of the city of
Schenectady, New York as their Police Commissioner. Charlie threw himself into the
life of that community -- a city that had a lot of problems because there were many
people out of work and drug dealers who took advantage of their hopelessness.Charlie famously teamed up with Tom Constantine in November 1993
to pull off a big drug raid -- the one referred to on the title page of this book --
called "Operation: Crackdown" (and, as you will recall, "Constantine's Circus" by Mr.
Fred LeBrun) that brought about a long-lasting reduction in crime to the city of
Schenectady.Charlie moved on to other challenges in law enforcement. He was
serving a state government agency and supervising the evacuation of civilian employees
from the stricken tower at the time of his death.Those of us who knew him will never forget his infectious humor,
his enthusiasm for law enforcement and his penetrating, ice-blue eyes.CHARLIE MILLS Schenectady had woes and ills. And so, we hired Charlie Mills. When Charlie took the town's commission, He swore improvement as his mission. He went to work at breakneck pace To make an impact on the place. No iv'ry tower for this Commish. He cut his bait and caught his fish. He lasted but a brief few years; But left with our regrets and tears. Yes, O, this town did Charlie touch And that is why we love him much. Was there a time when Charlie quailed? When of our trust that Charlie failed? Never happened. There's no way That he'd not rush to save the day. In times of old did al-Rashid Concerned with all his people's need Go forth at night in beggars' clothes To hear first hand the people's woes. Thus did Charlie pound a beat Like any patrolman on the street. Thus did Charlie win our hearts: Community cop -- was Charlie's art. From far away beyond our town Someone sought to strike him down And take from us our faithful friend Who with such heart did us defend. They, through this horrific crime, Did take our Charlie before his time. However they might hurt us much There's something that they just can't touch. For everywhere that cops walk beats There's some of Charlie on those streets. You cannot keep a good man down And still he watches o'er our town. Behold our man from flames arise. Behold our Charlie's ice blue eyes. Towering tall above Ground Zero Stands Charlie Mills, American Hero. Go To TABLE OF CONTENTS  Questions? E-mail Us! CONSTANTINE'S CIRCUS, INC. PO Box 7223 Capitol Station Albany, NY 12224-0223 518-465-4413 518-465-3200 FAX |
