Valor Earned

Here’s a brief introduction to valor 
Valor is a term that refers to exceptional courage or bravery, often in the face of danger or adversity. It’s a quality that is deeply respected and admired.

Police awards and decorations are often bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary valor in service to their community. These awards are a tangible recognition of their bravery, service, and sacrifice.

Stolen Valor: A Dishonorable Act
The concept of “stolen valor” refers to the act of falsely claiming to have received any of these awards, decorations, or recognitions for service.

Respecting the Sacrifice
For those who have genuinely earned any of these honors, stolen valor can be deeply disrespectful. It diminishes the sacrifices they have made, the courage they have displayed, and the hardships they have endured. These awards are tangible symbols of their service, and falsely claiming them undermines the authenticity not only of the awards but of their service in general.

A Family’s Legacy
Stolen valor can also be hurtful to the families of those who have served. By falsely claiming awards, individuals may inadvertently suggest that their family member’s service was insufficient or that their legacy needs to be embellished in order to make their service seem more relevant. This can be a painful insult, particularly for other families who have experienced loss or hardship due to their loved one’s service.

The Honor of Service
It’s important to remember that simply wearing the badge of a Baltimore City police officer is an honorable act in and of itself. Law enforcement officers face numerous challenges and risks on a daily basis, and their dedication to protecting and serving their communities should be recognized and respected.

We all need to understand the significance of police service and the pride that comes with wearing the badge of a Baltimore City police officer.

Maintaining Integrity
Stolen valor not only undermines the sacrifices of those who have genuinely earned the honors bestowed on our members of law enforcement, but it also tarnishes the reputation of the entire law enforcement community. By maintaining the integrity of awards and recognizing the inherent value of their service, we can help to preserve the honor and respect associated not just with the awards in question, but with the service provided by our law enforcement officers every day.

Conclusion
Stolen valor is a harmful act that undermines the sacrifices of those who have genuinely earned these honors. It can also cause emotional distress to families of veterans by diluting the meaning of these merits. By respecting the authenticity of these awards and recognizing the inherent value of service, we can help to preserve the integrity of these distinctions and honor the memory of those who have served their department and communities, while also not making the service of those who had not received such awards seem less than appreciated.

Too often, we have a family member working to get an uncle, grandfather, or great-grandfather an award we know that officer did not receive, and we have to ask ourselves: What would the uncle, grandfather, or great-grandfather think? Would they feel bad that their years of service apparently did not rise to the level the family member wished it had, to a point that they would have to try to use deception to pad their ancestor’s career stats?

Pinning on an award can be an exciting time in an officer’s career, but that should be no less rewarding than the first time they pinned on their Baltimore City police officer’s badge, a badge that they had to work and train hard to earn, then even harder to keep throughout their twenty- to twenty-five-year career.

Let’s honor our family members while being proud of the record they had as a city police officer and the actual awards they received.

Help us stamp out stolen valor.