A Journey Across the NYPD: From the Police Self Support Group to Staten Island's 120th Precinct

Protecting the Protector Through Presence, Remembrance, and Accompaniment in 21st-Century Policing
 
The Journey Begins
 

Some days become more than a series of appointments.
 
They become a journey.
 
June 25, 2026, became one of those days.
 
The morning began aboard a New Jersey Transit train into Manhattan. Before continuing my journey, I had the privilege of speaking informally with officers of the Amtrak Police Department in Penn Station as they prepared for morning roll call. There was no formal presentation—simply genuine interactions about leadership, resilience, and the challenges facing today's protectors.
 
Those brief conversations became the first of many meaningful encounters that would shape the day.
 
Leaving Penn Station, I walked through Herald Square toward the subway. Along the way, I introduced myself to an NYPD officer, thanked him for his service, and continued toward Queens.
 
My destination was the NYPD Medical Services Division, where I had been invited by Arvid Flores, President of the Police Self Support Group, to share remarks with members of one of the Department's finest expressions of officers caring for officers.
 
The Police Self Support Group stands as one of the New York City Police Department's most meaningful expressions of protecting the protector. Composed of active and retired members who understand firsthand the profound physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual burdens that can accompany a career in law enforcement—including the lasting effects of critical incidents, serious injury, personal loss, and cumulative trauma—it offers understanding, encouragement, and hope to officers and their families. In both its mission and its impact, the organization reflects the very best of compassionate leadership, accompaniment, and unwavering commitment to those who have devoted their lives to protecting others.
 
Having previously written for Law Officer about the extraordinary work of the Police Self Support Group, I arrived with an even deeper appreciation for the remarkable men and women gathered there that morning.
 
Before my presentation, Arvid shared a heartfelt reflection on family and the importance of making time for life's highest priorities. His testimony served as a powerful reminder that while policing demands extraordinary sacrifice, no professional accomplishment can replace the importance of the people waiting at home.
 
Before beginning my remarks, I had the privilege of recognizing Monsignor Robert J. Romano, Chief Chaplain of the New York City Police Department, for his steadfast support of the Police Self Support Group and for opening the gathering with prayer. Kathy Burke was recognized for her decades of devoted service and congratulated on her recent recognition by the organization. Dino Saoulis, Sergeant-at-Arms, was likewise acknowledged for his faithful leadership and continued commitment to supporting fellow officers.
 
Looking around the room, I was reminded that "protecting the protector" is far more than a phrase. It represents men and women who have experienced the visible and invisible wounds that can accompany a lifetime of public service, yet who continue reaching out to strengthen others.
 
Protecting the Protector
 
The Police Self Support Group represents one of the finest examples of officers caring for officers.
 
Throughout the gathering, I was reminded that the phrase "line of duty" encompasses far more than a single moment in time. It includes the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual burdens that often accompany a lifetime of public service. Many of those burdens remain unseen, carried quietly by men and women who continue serving others while facing challenges of their own.
 
During my remarks, I reflected upon ethical leadership, resilience, and what I have often described as the Wounded Protector. More importantly, I encouraged everyone present to make every encounter meaningful.
 
Whether speaking with a fellow officer, a supervisor, a family member, or a member of the community, every encounter presents an opportunity to demonstrate respect, extend courtesy, show genuine concern, and remind another person that they matter.
 
Some encounters last only moments.
 
Yet those moments often remain with us for a lifetime.
 
As the program concluded, I chose not to leave my Liberation Cards on a table for distribution. Instead, I personally placed one into the hands of every member present. Every handshake became another encounter. Every conversation became another opportunity to express gratitude, offer encouragement, and remind those who have spent their lives protecting others that they are never alone.
 
As I greeted each member personally, I also encouraged them to stay in touch and reminded them that if I could ever be of assistance, they need only reach out.
 
It was a simple gesture, yet one that reflected the very mission of the Police Self Support Group itself—officers accompanying officers through both the triumphs and the trials of life.
 
Across New York Harbor
 
As the luncheon concluded, I began the next leg of my journey.
 
Returning to Manhattan by subway, I made my way to the Staten Island Ferry. The familiar crossing across New York Harbor offered a welcome opportunity for quiet reflection. Looking toward the Statue of Liberty, I found myself thinking about the many encounters that had already shaped the day and those still waiting ahead.
 
Upon arriving at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal on the Staten Island side, another meaningful encounter awaited. I introduced myself to an NYPD sergeant and police officer assigned to the terminal. Although our conversation lasted only a few moments, it reflected the same spirit of encouragement that had accompanied me throughout the day. Before continuing toward the 120th Precinct, I presented each of them with one of my Liberation Cards, thanked them for their dedicated service, and invited them to contact me if I could ever be of assistance.

Like so many encounters throughout the day, it was brief.
 
Yet it was meaningful.
 
Where Service Meets Sacrifice
 
From the ferry terminal, I continued my walk to the historic 120th Precinct.

 
After addressing the officers during the first roll call, Jozette Carter, her daughter Serena, and I stepped outside together to the memorial honoring Police Officer Gerard L. Carter. Before I returned to address the officers assembled for the second roll call, we paused to remember a life of extraordinary service and sacrifice.
 
Police Officer Gerard L. Carter's enduring legacy continues to inspire members of the New York City Police Department and the Staten Island community he faithfully served.
 
There was no need for many words.
 
The memorial quietly spoke for itself.
 
As we stood before the memorial, I found myself reflecting upon the experiences of the morning. The members of the Police Self Support Group had reminded me that the line of duty often leaves wounds that cannot be seen.
 
At Jozette's invitation, we paused together in prayer. In that quiet moment, I was reminded of the profession's ultimate sacrifice. Those experiences formed a powerful bridge between caring for those who continue to serve and honoring one who gave his life in service to others.
 
Standing beside Jozette and Serena, I reflected upon a life of service, a family's enduring love, and a legacy that continues through the PO Gerard L. Carter Foundation. Through Jozette's courageous leadership of the Foundation and her continued service to the Staten Island community, Officer Carter's legacy continues to strengthen lives and build bridges between law enforcement and the people they serve.
 
It was a fitting reminder that the truest legacy of a life devoted to service is not measured by the years it is lived, but by the lives it continues to inspire.
 
A Precinct in Motion
 
Only then did we enter the historic 120th Precinct.
 

Serving Staten Island's North Shore, the 120th Precinct protects diverse residential neighborhoods, thriving commercial districts, the St. George Ferry Terminal, and one of New York City's most important transportation gateways. Every day, its officers respond to the full spectrum of police service while strengthening partnerships with the community through professionalism, courtesy, and respect—the very principles that continue to define the New York City Police Department at its best.
 
Immediately, I was reminded that a police precinct is unlike most workplaces. It is a place where the unexpected is expected, where every day presents new challenges, and where the work of serving the public never truly pauses.
 
Telephones rang, radios carried the familiar cadence of police communications, officers exchanged information, and the steady rhythm of the command reflected a profession that never truly stands still.
 
As officers assembled for the afternoon roll calls, the command remained fully engaged. Arrested individuals were escorted into the precinct for processing as officers and supervisors moved purposefully throughout the building. Members of the Emergency Service Unit arrived in tactical gear carrying protective body shields as they prepared for another assignment. Throughout the command, officers reviewed department briefings, supervisors coordinated assignments, and preparations continued for another tour of duty.
 
It was a vivid reminder that policing is a profession in constant motion.
 
Yet amid the steady pace of activity, there was also a remarkable sense of professionalism, discipline, and teamwork. Every member of the command understood that individual responsibilities contributed to a larger mission of serving and protecting the Staten Island community.
 
I remain deeply grateful to Chief Terence Hurson, Executive Officer of NYPD Patrol Borough Staten Island, for once again inviting me to address the officers of the 120th Precinct. His continued support of ethical leadership, officer wellness, resilience, and professional development has provided opportunities to encourage members of the Department across several commands.
 
I also extend my sincere appreciation to Inspector Eric J. Waldhelm, Commanding Officer of the 120th Precinct, for his leadership of the command, and to the officers and supervisors for their warm hospitality, professionalism, courtesy, and respect throughout my visit. The professionalism, teamwork, and welcoming spirit reflected throughout the precinct are a tribute to the men and women who serve there each day and to the leadership that guides them in faithfully serving the Staten Island community.
 
When I addressed the officers, I returned to the same message that had quietly accompanied me throughout the day's journey.
 
Every encounter matters.
 
Whether the encounter was with a fellow officer beginning a tour of duty, a supervisor offering

guidance, a victim seeking reassurance, an arrested individual being processed, a concerned citizen looking for help, or a family member waiting at home, every encounter offered an opportunity to demonstrate respect, extend courtesy, show genuine concern, and uphold the dignity of every person.
 
Those encounters may last only a few moments.
 
Yet they often become the moments people remember for years.
 
Looking around the room, I realized that I had witnessed that truth throughout the entire day. From Penn Station to Queens, from the Staten Island Ferry to the Gerard L. Carter Memorial, and now inside the 120th Precinct, every stop along the journey had been defined not simply by places, but by people.
 
That is what I will remember most.
 
Not simply the places I visited, but the people who gave each place its meaning.
 
The Enduring Power of Encounters
 
As I made my way home that evening, I found myself reflecting less upon the miles traveled than upon the people I had encountered along the way.
 
The journey had begun with officers of the Amtrak Police Department preparing for morning roll call in Penn Station. It continued with the remarkable men and women of the Police Self Support Group, whose compassion for one another reflects the very best of the profession. It crossed New York Harbor to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, where another brief encounter with two NYPD officers became an opportunity to express gratitude and encouragement. It paused before the memorial honoring Police Officer Gerard L. Carter, where Jozette and her daughter Serena continue a legacy of remembrance, service, and hope. It concluded inside the historic 120th Precinct, where officers prepared for another tour of duty amid the constant rhythm of a busy command.
 
Each encounter lasted only a few moments.
 
Yet each one carried the opportunity to strengthen another person.
 
Throughout the day, I encouraged those I met to make every encounter meaningful. Respect, courtesy, and genuine concern cost nothing, yet they have the power to encourage a struggling colleague, reassure a victim, comfort a family, strengthen a community, or simply remind another person that they matter.
 
That responsibility belongs to all of us.
 
For those in law enforcement, every tour of duty presents countless opportunities to build trust one encounter at a time. For the rest of us, every day offers the same opportunity within our homes, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, and our communities.
 
Some days become more than a series of appointments.
 
They become a journey.
 
On June 25, 2026, I experienced such a journey across the New York City Police Department.
 
It was a journey marked not simply by places visited, but by people encountered.
 
And in every encounter, I was reminded once again that behind every badge is a human being, behind every act of service is a story, and behind every meaningful encounter lies an opportunity to leave another person's life just a little better than we found it.

As originally published as the top featured story by Law Officer, June 29, 2026.

About the Author

Vincent J. Bove is a nationally recognized authority on ethical leadership, violence prevention, and law enforcement resiliency.

A sought-after speaker and prolific author, his work has influenced agencies and institutions across the United States for more than 25 years.

Bove has authored more than 350 published articles and four books addressing critical issues in public safety, leadership, and moral courage. 

His book Reawakening America© was named a finalist for ASIS International’s Book of the Year. Listen to Their Cries© was selected and sponsored for distribution to all attendees—students representing institutions from across the United States—at the National Conference on Ethics in America by the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic at the United States Military Academy, at the request of a coalition of West Point graduates involved in the conference.

He was appointed the first-ever Honorary Law Enforcement Motivational Speaker by the New York City Police Department, conducting leadership and resiliency initiatives across all five boroughs of New York City.

Bove is also the author of more than fifty leadership articles published in Law Officer, a national publication serving law enforcement professionals across the United States. His work emphasizes ethical leadership, preventive strategies, officer resilience, and the preservation of public trust in modern policing—drawing on American history and enduring leadership traditions to reinforce the importance of character, accountability, and moral courage.

He is a trusted voice at Federal Bureau of Investigation venues, United States Military Academy, and numerous U.S. military facilities. A longtime author for the National Association of Chiefs of Police, he has written 18 cover stories and contributed to shaping national law enforcement dialogue through feature articles and reports.

“Vincent J. Bove is considered one of the foremost national experts on school and workplace violence prevention, specializing in facility protection, evacuations, terrorism prevention, and leadership training.” — U.S. Senate

PHOTO: Vincent J. Bove conducting an ethical leadership, morale, and resiliency initiative at the NYPD 46th Precinct, Bronx, March 15, 2026. (Photo by NYPD Officer Theodore Cecchini for RALLC)

 
Selected Law Officer Readings by Vincent J. Bove
 
A Wounded Protector™ and Beacon of Ethical Policing for the Nation
An in-depth look at the extraordinary work of the NYPD Police Self Support Group and the enduring importance of protecting the protector through hope, healing, resilience, and accompaniment.
 
From NYPD SRG to Harlem’s 32ndPrecinct: A Day Across the Front Lines of New York
A narrative journey across New York City highlighting ethical leadership, meaningful encounters, and the enduring mission of those who protect and serve.

Ethical Leadership, Courage, and Resiliency: Brooklyn’s NYPD 94th Precinct
A reflection on the moral responsibility of leaders to strengthen trust, build resilient organizations, and care for the people entrusted to their leadership.

Vincent J. Bove's Complete Law Officer Author Chronology
 
Readers may explore Vincent J. Bove's complete Law Officer chronology, featuring his continuing series on ethical leadership, organizational resilience, officer wellness, emotional fortitude, protecting the protector, and 21st-century policing.

Photo 1: Vincent J. Bove joins Jozette Carter before the memorial honoring Police Officer Gerard Carter outside the historic NYPD 120th Precinct on Staten Island.
(P.O. Gerard Carter Foundation in collaboration with Reawakening America LLC)

Photo 2: Vincent J. Bove addresses officers during afternoon roll call at the NYPD 120th Precinct on June 25, 2026. (P.O. Gerard Carter Foundation in collaboration with Reawakening America LLC)

Photo 3: Officers assigned to the NYPD 120th Precinct review department briefings prior to Vincent J. Bove evening roll call remarks. (Vincent J. Bove for Reawakening America LLC)

Photo 4: NYPD patrol vehicles prior to Vincent J. Bove roll call remarks at 120th precinct on June 25, 2026. (Vincent J. Bove for Reawakening America LLC)

The First Test of the American Promise

Constitutional Authority, National Expansion, and the Strain of Principle in 21st-Century Policing

Part II of a Six-Part Series

The American Standard: A Leadership Series in 21st-Century Policing

A Leadership Framework from the Writings of Vincent J. Bove for Law Officer

Presented during the commemoration year of the 250th anniversary of American independence (1776–2026), and in anticipation of the 25th anniversary remembrance of September 11, 2001—recognizing the enduring responsibilities of leadership, constitutional service, sacrifice, and public trust.

Statement of Record

American policing was never intended to choose between authority and liberty. It was designed to uphold both—through disciplined power, protected rights, and unwavering character.

To fully understand the Constitution is to recognize that its enduring strength rests in its protection of human dignity. A nation may preserve order through force alone for a time, but it preserves legitimacy only when authority remains anchored in the dignity of the human person.

From the founding of the Republic to the realities of modern enforcement, constitutional policing and ethical policing have never been separate ideals. They are one and the same—and they remain the standard by which the profession is judged.

I. The Call Comes In: Authority Under Pressure

A patrol supervisor stands at the edge of a volatile crowd, the air heavy with accusation and expectation. One side demands enforcement—order, immediate and visible. The other demands restraint—rights, dignity, and protection from overreach. Every command given, every decision delayed, is judged in real time.

There is no perfect option—only lawful authority tested against public trust.

In that moment, the question is no longer theoretical: not what power is, but how it is used under pressure.

This is the same crucible the young American Republic entered the moment its ideals were no longer declarations on paper, but responsibilities carried out in the real world.

In America, the badge does not stand above the Constitution—it stands because of it.

Every call is a constitutional moment—and in today’s environment, it is likely being recorded, reviewed, and judged in real time.

II. From Principle to Structure: The Birth of Constitutional Policing

That moment arrived with the framing of the United States Constitution—a deliberate effort to transform principle into structure.

In Philadelphia, the Founders moved beyond philosophy and into function. 

They understood something

every law enforcement professional understands today: authority without structure fails, and structure without limits becomes dangerous.

The Constitution established a system where power was divided, limited, and made accountable.

As James Madison wrote, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” Authority was required—but it could never be unchecked.

The Constitution did not give authority its power. It gave it its limits—and in those limits, its legitimacy.

This is the origin of constitutional policing.

Structure is not abstract—it guides decisions in the field, under pressure, and often without time for reconsideration.

III. The Line Is Drawn: Rights That Govern Power

The addition of the Bill of Rights made those limits explicit.

These were not symbolic protections. They were operational boundaries.

They defined what government could not do—even in the name of order.

Every stop, every search, every use of force carries judgment—by the courts, by the public, and increasingly, in real time.

Authority is not measured by how much power you have—but by how well you control it.

Rights are not obstacles to policing. They are the reason policing is trusted.

IV. Expansion Under Pressure: When Authority Moves Faster Than Clarity

The first real test came with the Louisiana Purchase.

President Thomas Jefferson faced a dilemma that resonates in modern policing: act within strict authority—or act in the interest of a larger objective.

He chose to act.

The Constitution did not clearly authorize the acquisition, yet the decision was made in the name of national security and future stability.

This was not expansion alone—it was a stress test of principle.

In policing, those moments appear when policy is clear—but circumstances are not. Judgment becomes the difference between lawful action and lasting consequence.

When necessity expands authority, only principle prevents its abuse.

V. The Fracture: When Law and Justice Separate

As the nation expanded, so did its contradictions.

Indigenous populations were displaced under policies backed by law but absent of justice. Slavery persisted—legally sanctioned and fundamentally incompatible with the principles of liberty.

This was not a failure of structure.

It was a failure of application.

Rights existed—but not for everyone. Law functioned—but not equally.

Public trust is not issued with the badge. It is earned in moments—and lost the same way.

History’s warning is clear: when justice is uneven, authority is questioned—and when authority is questioned long enough, it is no longer believed.

VI. The 21st-Century Officer: Where Constitution and Ethics Become Practice
Today’s officer operates at the intersection of law, ethics, and public judgment—where one decision can define all three.
 
In America, authority derives its legitimacy not merely from law—but from constitutional respect, ethical conduct, and public trust. That standard applies equally in moments of calm and moments of crisis. The Constitution is not an obstacle to enforcement; it is the source of its legitimacy. And when authority remains grounded in constitutional respect, it does more than preserve order—it preserves the trust that allows a free society to endure.
 
A single action may be lawful, but if it is perceived as excessive, inconsistent, or unjust, the impact extends beyond the moment—to the agency, the profession, and the community it serves.
 
Actions are judged in real time. Trust is formed—or lost—immediately.
 
But the standard does not change.
 
Constitutional policing is ethical policing. The two cannot be separated.
 
Professional policing is not defined by power. It is defined by judgment, discipline, constitutional respect, and the ability to do what is right when no one would know the difference.
 
The profession does not fail in moments of pressure. It is revealed by them.
 
Was the action lawful?
Was it right?
And was it trusted?

VII. When Strain Becomes Breaking Point
The contradictions of the early Republic did not disappear beneath expansion and growth. They deepened.
 
The nation continued to move westward. Its influence expanded. Its institutions strengthened. But beneath that growth, unresolved questions continued to intensify:
 
Who truly received the protections promised at the founding?
Could liberty remain credible while rights were applied unevenly?
And how long could a nation sustain authority when justice itself was increasingly disputed?
 
These tensions were no longer confined to political debate. They reached into communities, institutions, and eventually every level of American life.
 
History demonstrates a truth that modern policing understands well: unresolved distrust does not remain contained. It grows beneath the surface until legitimacy itself is tested.
 
When systems fail to resolve these tensions, they do not disappear—they return to the field, where officers, leaders, and institutions are left to navigate them in real time.
 
By the middle of the nineteenth century, the strain could no longer be managed through compromise alone.
 
The nation had reached the point where its principles, its laws, and its identity could no longer avoid collision.
 
And eventually, the system could no longer contain the strain.

Final Reflections
The next test would not be about growth.
 
It would be about survival.
 
Under Abraham Lincoln, the nation would confront its deepest contradiction in the American Civil War—where constitutional authority, human equality, and national identity collided in ways that could no longer be postponed, debated, or ignored.
 
Because when a nation separates law from justice, it does not weaken—it divides.
 
And when those divisions deepen long enough, they cease to be political disagreements.
 
They become national reckonings.
 
The Civil War would force the country to confront whether the principles declared at its founding would remain words on paper—or become truths applied equally under law.
 
That question did not end in the nineteenth century.
 
It remains the enduring responsibility of every institution entrusted with public authority.
 
Including policing.
 
American policing, at its best, is not an instrument of power. It is a reflection of principle.
 
And when it remains grounded in constitutional respect, ethical conduct, and public trust, it does more than enforce the law—it becomes a lighthouse for the world.
 
History often remembers divided nations not simply for their conflicts—but for whether their institutions remained faithful to principle while enduring them.

As originally published by Law Officer, June 22, 2026.

Part I of VI (The American Foundation: Founding Principles and the Standard of Leadership in 21st Century Policing,  published by Law Officer, June 18, 2026. 

About the Author

Vincent J. Bove is a nationally recognized authority on ethical leadership, violence prevention, and law enforcement resiliency.

A sought-after speaker and prolific author, his work has influenced agencies and institutions across the United States for more than 25 years.

Bove has authored more than 350 published articles and four books addressing critical issues in public safety, leadership, and moral courage. 

His book Reawakening America© was named a finalist for ASIS International’s Book of the Year. Listen to Their Cries© was selected and sponsored for distribution to all attendees—students representing institutions from across the United States—at the National Conference on Ethics in America by the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic at the United States Military Academy, at the request of a coalition of West Point graduates involved in the conference.

He was appointed the first-ever Honorary Law Enforcement Motivational Speaker by the New York City Police Department, conducting leadership and resiliency initiatives across all five boroughs of New York City.

Bove is also the author of more than fifty leadership articles published in Law Officer, a national publication serving law enforcement professionals across the United States. His work emphasizes ethical leadership, preventive strategies, officer resilience, and the preservation of public trust in modern policing—drawing on American history and enduring leadership traditions to reinforce the importance of character, accountability, and moral courage.

He is a trusted voice at Federal Bureau of Investigation venues, United States Military Academy, and numerous U.S. military facilities. A longtime author for the National Association of Chiefs of Police, he has written 18 cover stories and contributed to shaping national law enforcement dialogue through feature articles and reports.

“Vincent J. Bove is considered one of the foremost national experts on school and workplace violence prevention, specializing in facility protection, evacuations, terrorism prevention, and leadership training.” — U.S. Senate

PHOTO: Vincent J. Bove conducting an ethical leadership, morale, and resiliency initiative at the NYPD 46th Precinct, Bronx, March 15, 2026. (Photo by NYPD Officer Theodore Cecchini for RALLC)

Vincent J. Bove Law Officer Resources

The following works reflect a consistent standard across the profession: that constitutional policing, ethical leadership, and public trust are inseparable.

Selected Law Officer Articles
 
Ethical Leadership Builds Trust
 
Establishes trust as the foundation of authority—earned through consistent, ethical decision-making under pressure.
 
The Ethical Compass for21st-Century Policing

Defines constitutional policing through proportionality, accountability, and a reverence for life.
 
Hidden in Plain Sight

Identifies the internal risks to the profession—where quiet compromises erode integrity and public trust.
 
The Vincent J. Bove Law Officer Chronology

A complete body of work examining ethical leadership, constitutional policing, and the evolving responsibilities of American law enforcement.
 
Foundational United States Government Documents
 
United States Constitution

The supreme law of the United States—establishing the structure, limits, and authority of government.
 
Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments—defining the essential rights and protections that govern lawful policing.
 
The Declaration of Independence

Articulates the foundational principles of liberty and equality that inform the Constitution and the moral authority of American law.

Images

Image 1 — NYPD, Times Square, New York City - December 28, 2017.

Constitutional authority, public expectation, and real-time scrutiny converge in the daily execution of modern policing. (Vincent J. Bove for Reawakening America LLC)

Image 2 — American Flags, Rockefeller Center, New York City - January 1, 2006.

The American flag represents more than national identity—it reflects a system of ordered liberty, where authority is defined, limited, and sustained through principle.
(Vincent J. Bove for Reawakening America LLC)

Image 3 — Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - May 21, 2022.  In this room, constitutional authority was not imagined—it was constructed, debated, and defined to endure beyond the moment. (Vincent J. Bove for Reawakening America LLC)

This image reflects a journey undertaken by the author and his wife that included reflection at Gettysburg National Cemetery, where the cost of preserving the Union is remembered, and a visit to Independence Hall, where the principles of American liberty were first established.