Lehigh Acres Has Its Own Hero Helping Other Hero’s Family’s Out By Honoring Them

Written by Cliff House

First and foremost, I appreciate you the Lehigh Acres Gazette returning my phone call yesterday and allowing me to tell you the story about my wonderful brother that lives in Lehigh Acres and what he is doing for the Law Enforcement community.

A little about myself to help you understand the importance of his support.  I have been a Police Officer for 10 years and my wife is a Missouri State Trooper.  Our father is also a Police Officer and has been for many years.

My brother is Skip House, who is a resident of Lehigh Acres.  Skip is a wood worker and can build anything out of wood.  He began making, what we call, Thin Blue Line plaques last year.

The Thin Blue Line is a symbol used by the law enforcement community to symbolize and commemorate fallen police officers.

Skip made my father and me one last year and the word got out that many other officers, including citizens. They loved them and wanted them.  When he began to receive such positive feedback and requests Skip decided he wanted to make the lines for officers killed in the line of duty.  Skip was aware of all the negative publicity police officers were receiving and wanted to let officers know they are appreciated for the sacrifices they make on a daily basis.

My thin blue line is hanging in my house and I look at it every day before work.  It is a great piece that allows me to do my job knowing that any day could be the day, I pay the ultimate sacrifice.

Once my father and I, began to show other officers the thin blue line plaques, the word spread quickly and Skip started to get many requests for them.  Skip, who has a huge heart decided to show his respect for officers and decided to make the thin blue lines for a lot of different people/officers.

Many co-workers requested them and I in turn told Skip that many friends wanted one.  The friends wanted to pay Skip for making them and shipping them but Skip refused to take the money.  Skip told them instead of paying him if they would donate money to Backstoppers.com.  Back stoppers is a foundation in St. Louis that provides financial assistance to the families of fallen officers.

Skip makes the thin blue lines all by himself in his garage.  Skip cuts the wood, paints the wood, puts the pieces together and ships them all across the country by himself.  Skip on average ships about 5 thin blue lines a week.

Skip decided to make a large thin blue line for every officer that has died in the line of duty.  This was his idea and ever since last year, he has made the thin blue lines and shipped them at his own expense.

Skip looks on line and gets updates when officers die in the line of duty.  Skip then calls the police department and asks for an address to send the blue lines.  Skip then ships the blue line and requests that each officer from that department sign the plaque and present the plaque to the next of kin.

Skip has tremendous feedback on doing this and is so happy that his thin blue lines can show little comfort in the families that receive them.

I don’t have an exact number of how many he has sent to the police departments but my guess would be over 50.

Skip makes big ones that he sends out to the fallen officers which are about 3 feet by 3 feet.

He also makes small thin blue lines.  During Christmas, he came home and provided 25 or so to his family to hand out.

So what my wife and 14-year-old daughter and the rest of our family has done is when we see a police officer either at a gas station or anywhere else, we go up to them and provide the thin blue line to them as a sign of respect and appreciation.

You wouldn’t believe the smiles on these officers faces once they receive a thin blue line.  We tell them the back story of how my brother makes them and gives them out and they are extremely grateful for the support.

Skip has also make numerous thin blue line dog bones for the fallen K9 officers.  His feedback on the K9 lines are amazing as well.  He has received such great feedback there are requests coming in for small K-9 lines to hand out to K-9 officers he sees while he is driving.  Skip has also made firefighter red lines.

The following is what Skip loves to do the most.  Skip carries the smaller thin blue lines in his vehicle when he drives to work.  Whenever he sees an officer, he pulls over and provides them with a thin blue line.  I have heard many stories from Skip about how thankful this officers are once they receive a thin blue line.  Skip stated he talks with the officers and they love what he is doing for the law enforcement community.

Skip has handed out these lines to so many officers, the officers see him and actually tell Skip, they know who he is.  The word got out and there are so many officers in Fort Myers and Lehigh that know his name and truck.  He is beginning to have trouble finding an officer he has not provided a thin blue line to.

Skip loves doing this type of activity and he is doing this as his way of giving back to the officers who have one of the most stressful jobs in the world.

Skip has a Facebook account set up.  For first-hand knowledge of what he is doing, I encourage you to go onto his page (My Blue Angels) and check out his progress.  On his page, you can see the thin blue lines, letters, numerous pictures and support.

Skip in his home has numerous thank you letters from around the world.  Police Chiefs and Sheriffs send him thank you letters and those letters let Skip know his hard work and support is not going unnoticed.

Just last week, Skip was called by a New York City officer whose partner was killed in the line of duty and they had received a line from Skip.  This officer provided Skip with little collectables from New York and even mentioned to him that they would love a thin blue line so they can put next to the officers that passed during 9-11.  Skip loves hearing this kind of feedback and motivates him even more to keep providing the lines.

As an officer, what Skip is doing is tremendous and I believe he deserves his story to be heard.