He was minding his business driving along the road when suddenly, he noticed a cop car driving right up behind him. Usually, when these things happen, people get worried that they are about to be pulled over. What could he have been doing wrong?
Panic-inducing
There’s nothing more stressful than looking in your mirrors and noticing that there is a cop car right behind you. The instant feeling that you’re doing something wrong and that you are about to receive a huge fine, or worse, be asked to step out of your car, is overwhelming and scary. Sometimes you end up getting pulled over when you don’t know you’ve been doing something wrong, even if you were speeding.
Panic Inducing
Special Case
Usually, when we see a police car driving closely behind us, we start to get nervous for fear of being pulled over. Of course, avoiding the situation and trying to not do anything wrong is ideal, but it’s not always possible. Sometimes you get pulled over anyway. This is what happened to a man named William Jazwinski.
Special Case
He Got Pulled Over
William was just out for a nice solo drive on the open road when he saw the red and blue flashing lights and realized he was getting pulled over. He had no idea why he was getting pulled over, though, because he didn’t think he was doing anything that he shouldn’t have been doing.
He Got Pulled Over
Shaking In His Boots
William always made sure to be careful while driving; he had a clean driving record and had never gotten a ticket before, so he genuinely couldn’t understand why he was being pulled over now. He never would have expected this to happen after the police officer got out of his car.
Shaking In His Boots
Not Normal
The policeman got out of his car and started making his way to William slowly. He locked eyes with William for a few seconds without saying a single word, then his eyes moved to his car dashboard. William didn’t know what was going on, but he knew this would not be a normal interaction.
Not Normal
A Cop Car
When William looked in his mirrors and noticed the lights flashing behind him, he knew exactly what was going on. After a minute the cop also turned on the sirens, which was signaling William to pull off of the road and stop immediately.
A Cop Car
What’s To Come
William’s heart was beating a mile a minute and there were so many things running through his mind of what he could have done. None of this made sense to him; he wasn’t doing anything wrong, so he had no idea why he was being pulled over. He was trying to take some deep breaths and remain calm as the police officer got to his car.
What’s To Come
Being Patient
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t figure out what he was being pulled over for. He knew that he was not driving over the speed limit and he wasn’t doing anything illegal, so all he could do now was sit patiently and listen to what the police officer said to him.
Being Patient
The Waiting Game
None of this was making sense to William, no matter how much he thought about it. He had never gotten pulled over or gotten into any altercations before, so what was he getting in trouble for right now? He was growing more impatient and frustrated because he knew that he was a well-behaved guy.
The Waiting Game
Getting Nervous
Regardless of what the police officer was going to say to him, there was no way that William would not abide by it and pay close attention. Once he pulled over to the side of the road, it felt like he was waiting forever for the cop to finally get to his car.
Getting Nervous
Asking The Question
Finally, the cop approached his car, so William rolled down the window and said hello to the officer. He proceeded to try to ask the officer if he was speeding and maybe just didn’t realize it. “Good morning officer, was I speeding?” he said.
Asking The Question
No Disrespect
He was trying to make sure not to disrespect the police officer in any way, as he was still a big authority figure with a lot of power. He wasn’t trying to start any problems, but he also had no idea why he was getting pulled over. He kept his cool and continued with his question of what he could have done to deserve this.
No Disrespect
What’s The HoldUp
Just like before, it felt like an entire lifetime had passed before the cop gave him an answer or even just started speaking to him. The police officer seemed to be in no rush whatsoever in doing anything, and it was confusing William. If he were in trouble wouldn’t the cop say so?
What’s The Hold Up
Nothing Wrong
William couldn’t believe it when the police officer told him he was getting a ticket, but it wasn’t going to be for what William thought it was for. “Good morning,” the police officer said to him. “No, not speeding.”
Nothing Wrong
Uncomfortable
The cop went on to tell him that there was no one specific reason for why he was being pulled over, which only made William twice as confused as before. Before they knew it, there was an extremely awkward and uncomfortable silence between the two.
Uncomfortable
What Could It Be
If there was no real reason as to why William was being pulled over, then why was this police officer pulling him over in the first place? This wasn’t funny to William; he was getting very nervous about what was happening right now. There had to be a reason that he wasn’t aware of why he was randomly getting pulled over for no reason in the middle of the day.
What Could It Be
An Unexpected Outing
William was growing more impatient by the minute while he waited to hear what this cop had to say to him. He was getting stuck in his head and was trying to figure out on his own what was going on, but finally, the cop told him, and it certainly wasn’t what he was expecting.
An Unexpected Outing
Just Thanking Him
As it turns out, the police officer just had something he wanted to say to William, he didn’t want to give him a ticket at all. “Just wanted to stop you and say thank you for your service,” the cop politely said to William.
Just Thanking Him
How Did He Know?
What exactly was this police officer thanking William for, anyway? Even further, how did he know that William had done any sort of service in the first place? As if William wasn’t confused already, his confusion was on a new level now.
How Did He Know?
Did They Know Each Other?
William was beyond surprised that someone he had never met before knew such a personal detail about his life; how did this cop know that he had done service or anything personal about his life? Had the two men met before and he just didn’t remember it?
Did They Know Each Other?
His Bumper Sticker
William quickly realized how the officer actually knew that he had served. He had forgotten for a minute about the veteran bumper sticker that he had on the back of his car! Any person driving behind him would see this bumper sticker and would quickly learn that he had once been in the army.
His Bumper Sticker
A Symbol
It’s not uncommon for veterans to put identifying stickers like this on the back of their cars. It was very common for people to honk or wave at William in appreciation for the service he did, but he had never before been pulled over by an officer for such a thing.
A Symbol
Not Over
When he started to fully understand what was going on, he responded to the officer. “Oooh the bumper sticker, nice. You’re welcome sir,” he stated. “My pleasure.” William thought this would have been the end of their conversation, but actually, it was just the beginning of it.
Not Over
Just The Beginning
William was about to start rolling up his car window to drive away, but the officer wanted to continue the conversation. William was definitely not expecting this, but he knew that he couldn’t do much about it. What happened next was something William never would have imagined, but it was heartwarming.
Just The Beginning
A Few Questions
The officer was not ready to let William drive away just yet; he had a few questions for the young veteran that he wanted to discuss with him. His first question was asking William where exactly he was based while he was in the army. “Where did you serve?” the officer asked.
A Few Questions
Something Seems Fishy
At first, William couldn’t shake the feeling of something weird going on here. He didn’t know why, but he thought something was a bit off with this situation. This wasn’t the police officer’s job or in his jurisdiction to be asking William detailed questions about his service. What intentions did he have?
Something Seems Fishy
About His Service
He still decided to abide by what the cop was asking of him, and he proceeded to explain to the officer that he served as a heavy wheeled vehicle operator. He said that he had just recently returned from where he was based in the Middle East.
About His Service
Wants To Move On
“I went to Iraq,” he stated. “Did a 15 monther out of Fort Benning.” He was proud of serving his country, but at this point, he just wanted to get on with a normal civilian lifestyle; he was surprised that he was being pulled over and questioned for his service.
Wants To Move On
Not Making Sense
Much to William’s surprise, this cop actually had a real reason for why he was asking him all of these personal questions. William was unaware of what this cop was so curious about and why he wanted to ask him so many questions about his military service.
Not Making Sense
His Own Motive
In William’s mind, it seemed like this cop just wanted to casually chat and pick his brain about his military service and his deployment, but in reality, the police officer had a completely different mentality about what was going on during this conversation.
His Own Motive
Like His Son
After William explained his service more thoroughly, the officer then told him that his son had also recently served in the same place as William. “Well alright. My son went to Iraq,” the officer stated. This was the real reason William was being pulled over.
Like His Son
Seeing Things Differently
He wanted to have the chance to meet and have a conversation with someone who had some of the same experiences as his son, as it was not a common thing. He kept explaining more details to William about his son’s time serving overseas, and it really made William’s attitude about being stopped flip completely.
Seeing Things Differently
Change Of Heart
Just like that, William’s feelings of feeling nervous or scared vanished completely. He immediately started to gain a huge understanding of what this man felt and had to say to him. Regardless, William had just completed a program to help him recover from his PTSD, and he was still regaining the strength to be able to talk about his experiences.
Change Of Heart
He Died There
As the conversation continued, it took a turn in a direction that William was never anticipating. William was taken back by what the cop said to him next. He thought he had finally figured out the cop’s intentions, but then he heard this news. Needless to say, this was not the day William was expecting to have when he woke up that morning.
He Died There
Speechless
The officer’s son died while he was serving overseas. “He didn’t make it home,” the officer said to William. The officer had a hard time getting this sentence out, and listening to him say this absolutely broke William’s heart. The only thing William could do was be a shoulder for this officer to lean on right now.
Speechless
My Condolences
William could not feel anything but remorse and pain for what this cop was explaining to him. He was thinking of all the things he was doing now that he was back, living his life like he normally would, while there are people like this cop who can’t experience the joy of their children coming back from war.
My Condolences
Noticed Something
William was left speechless, and he felt horrible that he couldn’t really do much for the cop other than express his condolences and tell him he understands where his pain is coming from. “Man, I’m so sorry to hear that,” he told the cop. The cop took a deep breath and got his composure back, and he was about to let William go, but then he noticed something sitting on the dashboard of his car.
Noticed Something
His Folded Flag
Right as the officer was about to let William go on with his day, he noticed that he had an American flag sitting on the dashboard of his car, but it wasn’t just any kind of flag. This American flag was folded in a deliberate way to let the officer know that it was for something of importance.
His Folded Flag
Significance
During a funeral officiated by the U.S. military, it is customary for an American flag to be folded thirteen times into a perfect triangle, which represents the lost lives of soldiers. Each fold in the flag represents something different, each thing something symbolic to the country.
Significance
Caught His Eye
“I see you have a flag in the truck,” the police officer pointed out. The flag was folded in the perfect triangle to commemorate a fallen soldier. Why did this flag mean so much to the officer? What about it was catching his eye so intently?
Caught His Eye
Just Like That
When he saw the flag folded on the dashboard of William’s car, it made him think about the exact same one that he had at his house. The flag he had at home was given to him by the United States military after his son lost his life while he was fighting for his country overseas.
Just Like That
He Has The Same One
“The one we got for him! Well, it’s at the house,” the cop exclaimed. In that moment, the police officer looked William in the eye and asked him for a big favor. “Can I ask a question?” William did not hesitate before agreeing to the officer’s question, but what the officer was going to ask of him was a complete shock.
He Has The Same One
Out For A Spin
Today was William’s only day off this week, so he woke up early to take his truck out for a nice, long ride because the weather was so nice. He never thought that something like this would happen to him on this day, but it was turning out to be okay after all.
Out For A Spin
Day Ruined
William’s favorite thing to do in order to get his mind off of things going on in his life was to drive down an open road in rural New York where there was so much open space and no traffic to worry about like in the city. He was just beginning what he thought would be a relaxing drive when he noticed the cop car in his rearview mirror.
Day Ruined
Asking For A Hug
When the police officer started to ask his question, William could tell that he was the one who was a bit nervous now! The officer shyly said to him, “Do you mind stepping out and receiving a hug?” William could see that the officer was very sad at this point.
Asking For A Hug
Knew He Was Upset
William was very surprised and taken back after receiving such a bizarre request. It’s not so common to be pulled over by a police officer and have the outcome be that the police officer requests for you to step out of your car to give him a giant hug! He could tell the officer was very upset, though.
Knew He Was Upset
Couldn’t Say No
This was anything other than a normal, everyday situation. After the police officer worked up the courage to ask William such a far-out question, the cop burst into a stream of tears and said something to William that he simply couldn’t take lightly. William knew he had to do something now.
Couldn’t Say No
The Reason Why
As the officer was about to pour his heart out to William, he looked him right in the eyes. The cop explained that he was so upset because he noticed so many similarities between William and his fallen son, and he just couldn’t contain his sadness about it.
The Reason Why
A Constant Reminder
“You remind me of my son. I pulled you over,” this cop stated. “Thought you were him. I still don’t believe it most days he’s gone.” William didn’t have any choice here; even if he didn’t want to give this officer a hug, he had to. The man was so visibly upset and there was no hiding it. William had to give him a big hug.
A Constant Reminder
A Warm Embrace
Soon, William found himself having difficulty holding back his stream of tears as well. He opened his car door and wrapped his arms tightly around this police officer. He remembered later, “With tears in both our eyes I got out and hugged that man.”
A Warm Embrace
A Stranger’s Love
As humans, we all need warmth and love. It is only natural that after all the hard time he spent on the field, giving a hug to that police officer (despite not knowing him) was very meaningful to him, more than anyone could imagine.
A Stranger’s Love
Crying Together
It was a very emotional moment when the police officer and the soldier hugged for what appeared a long time. Emotion took over them and they both started crying and had a very meaningful and honest talk from the heart
.
Crying Together
He Also Needed A Hug
It may be true that it was the police officer who asked for the hug, but Willaim noticed right away that the hug was also for himself and that he needed it as much as the cop: “I’m talking about for a minute or two crying, down to our knees crying.” William said
He Also Needed A Hug
They Needed It
Until we are not caught up in the moment, we don’t realize many things that we need but are buried deep in our minds. This is exactly what happened to Willaim, let’s not forget that he had just finished his PTSD treatment as many war veterans do.
They Needed It
Opening Up
William told the officer about the program/treatment he went through, “I just finished a PTSD program,” the goal of the program was to help the soldiers cope with the trauma post-Iraq and reintegrate into society to be able to lead a normal life.
Opening Up
They Needed This
Despite being unaware of it a first, both men realized once the hug was over that it was exactly what they needed to close a chapter and continue with their lives. It was a very emotional moment for both.
They Needed This
Shell Shock Or PTSD
You probably have heard that most war veterans suffer from PTSD, which stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. At first, it was called shell shock once doctors noticed that those coming back from war were paralyzed and traumatized.
Shell Shock Or PTSD
What Happens?
What’s common in PTSD is to re-live the traumatic events and have flashbacks about them. People who suffer from this disorder, believe that their lives and the lives of others are in danger. This is exactly what Willaim was trying to overcome in his program.
Time To Reflect
After having that eye-opening moment with the police officer, William started to do a little bit of introspection and each time he remembered that hug and the deep talk, a sile would grow on him. For this reason, he decided that his story was too memorable to not share it, and so he decided to take action.
Time To Reflect
A Beautiful Message
A few days had gone by since that heartwarming moment occurred until William decided that he would share his story on Facebook. He shared every detail of that day on the road and how everything had changed after that.
A Beautiful Message
Fresh Outlook
There are times when you learn great things in life, things that are worth sharing with the world. And that’s what happened to Willaim after the cop stopped him in the middle of the road, so he decided to share it “To all the family and friends of soldiers, fighting or done fighting, God bless you…”
Fresh Outlook
Unexpected
Then he continued saying “…Your peace and your hearts, it’s so hard without them, I know. This road is a tremendous one. Love to all.” Little did Willam know that after sharing this, his life would not be the same again.
Unexpected
It Went Viral
After reading about such an emotional story, it doesn’t come as a surprise that William’s story ( “Love What Matters”)went viral through and won the hearts of tons of people on the way, over 48.000 to be exact.
It Went Viral
Support
Many people that had read the story could relate to it since they too had lost loved ones that were on duty. Many people commented on that post, one of them said: “I lost my son in Iraq on May 3, 2004. He was only 26,”
Support
Relatable
After seeing that his post had touched and moved so many people, William felt overwhelmed and thankful. People reacted in different ways, some thanked him, others shared the post and others commented on how inspiring William had been.
Relatable
Always Missed
Unfortunately, after a war, not every soldier comes back home. The police officer had lost his son “Not a day goes by I don’t miss and love him. I wonder what he would be like now, I miss him so much.”. Willaim was one of the lucky people to return to his loved ones.
Always Missed
Now A Father
That day that he spent with the cop, had changed his life forever. And now more than ever he saw life from a different perspective and he understood and wept for the cop’s pain. For now, Willaim had a daughter
Now A Father
A Father Of His Own
It was at that moment, the moment he had that talk with the police officer and the moment that he had a daughter that he realized how precious and unexpected life is. He began to appreciate each time he spent with his loved ones.
A Father Of His Own
An Amazing Person
After hearing about Willaims’s story, and about everything that he learned, there is no wonder that he has so much love to give to his daughter! Willaim proved to us that he has an amazing heart that’s ready to give to whoever needs it.
An Amazing Person
Fate
Lifeworks in mysterious ways. For instance, here we have the best example of two individuals that had never met before, and yet they had so much in common. At that time, Willaim was in a very bad place, but after meeting the cop he realized he had to appreciate and be grateful for what he had.
Fate
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Losing someone we love its one of the hardest things in life. But there is no stronger pain that a parent experiences when he losses a child. Each day brave young soldiers risk their lives for their countries not knowing if they will come home to their wives, husbands, children, or parents.
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Saying Thanks
For the mentioned above, all of us ought to say thank you to those who risked, risk, and will risk their lives to serve their countries and so that we can have a better life. We also have to be grateful to the families of those brave soldiers, because they are the ones heartbroken after losing their loved one
Saying Thanks
One Workday
Many people get stopped by the police for no apparent reason. However, the police officer, Michael Patterson, that stopped William had a beautiful reason to stop him. And none of them knew at that moment that their encounter would change their lives forever.
One Workday
Just Another Workday
It all started like any other normal day. Officer Patterson was complying with his job to make sure that everything was going well on the roads. He wanted to make them safer for everyone so naturally, he had to stop those who broke the law and posed a threat to others’ safety.
Just Another Workday
Darker Than Allowed
That day, Willaim was patrolling the Kingwood Township Highway when he was forced to stop a white BMW, not because the driver was speeding or breaking any other traffic law, but because his windows were dark, and that’s illegal.
Darker Than Allowed