Don LaPlante lives in Keller, Texas, a city of about 38,000 on the northern edge of Fort Worth in Tarrant County. Recently Don LaPlante sent the following e-mail to Galveston Police Chief Charles Wiley.
"I took these photos of one of your officers happily signing autographs for some Special Olympic Athletes at the Opening Ceremonies in Arlington, Texas in May. I was not able to get his name due to the large crowd of athletes gathered around him. Please forward these photos to him.
"I am the father of a Special Olympic Athlete and we appreciate so much the work that Police Officers across the Nation and especially our Officers in Texas do for Special Olympics."
The officer in the photo referred to by Mr. LaPlante was Sgt. Michael Gray, a member of the police departments Special Operations Group, and a participant in the statewide iniative to raise funds for Special Olympics.
Special Olympics is a worldwide organization made up of passionate, committed individuals from every walk of life, who recognize the value and unique gifts of people with intellectual disabilities, and who, together, share the common belief in dignity, equality and opportunity for ALL people.
Gray and several officers in the Special Ops Group have been involved in several functions both in Galveston and other cities, helping to raise needed funds in support of this very needed and worthy cause. Most recently a fundraiser at Joe's Crab Shack and Cops On Top at Shipley Donuts.
In May Galveston police officers joined law enforcement officers from throughout Texas participating in The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. And that's how Don LaPlante from Keller met Michael Gray from Galveston.
LaPlante became involved in Special Olympics 22 years ago when his son Lyndon, a special needs child, was born. Through all these years, LaPlante, a retired firefighter, has worked tirelessly in support of the organization which contributes so much to Lyndon.
Lyndon has participated in various sporting events in Special Olympics since he was 8-years old including Power Lifting, Track and Field, Golf, Basketball, Relay, and Shot Put and is active in sporting events outside Special Olympics.
"Without the Police Officer's dedication to Special Olympics the program may not have grown to it's size now. We are very grateful for their selfless acts of kindness," said LaPlante.
You can find more about Lyndon LaPlante by doing a Google search of his name. Through Special Olympics Lyndon has been able to fulfill a dream of getting to play and scoring a TD for his Keller High School Football Team.
Sgt. Michael Gray autographs a hat for a Special Olympian in Arlington, (courtesy photo)
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