Wish I’d been able to login here before midnight last night and do this post, but alas, I was at my brother Frank’s retirement party and so this post will have to contain today’s date instead.
The reason I’m concerned? Yesterday, March 9, 2007 was “Frank Mueller Day” in the tiny town of Northborough, Massachusetts.
Above, here, is my brother, Frank, our cousin LouAnn, and me (I’m the baby). Frank, 14 years old when I was born, is not only my brother, but also my godfather. LouAnn, my godmother. This photo was taken in 1960, the year that Mook (see previous post) gave birth to me.
Frank retired from the Northborough Police Department in December, 2006. The party honoring his career was last night, and it was one of the best events I’ve ever attended. Very well done. A lot of laughter, and a brief shedding of tears.
Frank was given a number of awards, by the town, surrounding towns, fire departments, and even the State of Massachusetts.
My brother is the true definition of “hero.” Having self-enlisted in the US Army in the mid-1960s, Frank served in Vietnam on a one-year tour of duty as an MP. Tales of his experience there were never-before-heard until last night. I remember vividly his homecoming from Vietnam, myself having been pulled out of my second-grade classroom to drive to Logan Airport with my folks. My teacher, Mrs. Sullivan, tearful herself, practically jumping up and down at the news of his return home. After that, Frank worked 7 years as a New Jersey State trooper — a job he qualified for after being accepted into the police academy literally two days after he stepped off the airplane from Vietnam in 1968. He began his career as a trooper with only a few weeks of training, a reportedly unprecedented career move. To his 30 years of service with Northborough, a job he also secured in only a couple of days, and which he accepted in favor of the Southborough Police Department’s offer, which came on the same day, only minutes after he’d already accepted the job with Northborough.
Early in his career in “Jersey”, as a very young man, Frank was one of hundreds of officers who participated in taking back control of Rahway State Prison from the inmates who had rioted and took over the facility.
Frank was responsible for a number of interesting well-known arrests in the Worcester County (Massachusetts) area, including the infamous “Honeymoon Bandit” — a man who would “crash” weddings throughout Worcester county and make off with baskets of gift envelopes. Frank was the officer who nabbed the guy, making front-page news headlines for the arrest.
Frank also saved a man from a burning car, twice. The man was so drunk, he crawled back inside the car after Frank dragged him out! Frank was given a medal of honor for saving the man’s life.
The stories of Frank’s heroism and dedication to “the department” are numerous and inspirational. I am honored to be related to this man, and thrilled to have been part of the celebration of his career.
In his personal life, Frank won several body-building titles in the 1980s and 1990s, rivaling the likes of “Arnold” and others. Frank’s four children, (my nieces and nephew) pictured here, are beautiful and a source of pride in and of themselves.
On to bigger and better things — what will it be next? One can only imagine, and dream.
Kath, What a beautiful, well written post. You captured last nights events perfectly. I meant it last night when I told you that I was a regular visitor to your site and I was looking forward to this (I knew you’d write about it!). Sorry I didn’t get a chance to talk with you more last night. Thanks for writing this, I’ll be sure to forward it to Frank.