He wasn't dressed like a Special Agent. He had on a white tee shirt, old washed-out Wrangler jeans and his favorite cowboy boots. I'm sure the students, teachers and the principal were expecting a suit and tie. I knew he had probably driven straight to the school from the barn where he kept Cowboy, his team-roping horse. My dad's passion for rodeos was almost as great as his passion for his job….

It was career day at our high school and my dad was one of the speakers. I watched with pride as he walked to the front of the platform to stand at the podium. The three big, black, bold letters on the front of his white tee shirt proclaim why he was there…FBI. A hush came over the audience when he began to speak.

My dad has been a special agent for the FBI for as long as I can remember so I've heard all of his stories many times. I knew he would talk about the importance of never giving up your dreams and how we each and everyone shape the hearts and lives of our loved ones for better or worse with our choices. Like I said, I had heard it all before. But the message my dad left with the audience that day will stay me forever…

Jordi, my best friend, was sitting next to me. She reached out and squeezed my hand when dad talked about the aftermath of September 11th. I shivered as he described the scene at Ground Zero when he saw it just a few weeks after the terrorist attack. He told stories of how he saw heroism redefined. Dad talked about the healing power of unity as he saw people came together in the dark days that followed the tragic event. I saw a few teachers dab at their eyes while dad was talking and I held my breath afraid he was going to say something about church or God. I'd heard him tell mom that morning, the principal had asked him to refrain from mentioning his religious beliefs but my dad was a dedicated Christian and I knew that would be difficult for him to do…

Like all Americans, September 11th, 2001 is a day I will never forget. I had an early dentist appointment that Tuesday morning and was not going to school until after lunch. Mom and I were in the kitchen and had the TV on. I remember watching in horror as the Twin Towers collapsed. Clouds of smoke were billowing skyward as people ran for their lives. It was like a scene from a science fiction movie…I started crying and my entire body was shaking. Mom held me and we cried together for the next hour, listening to the tragic reports, praying that daddy would call and let us know he was alright. When we finally did hear from him, he told us to pray….He reminded us that God loved us and that He hears the prayers of those whose suffering seemed unbearable. His reassuring words were like a hug.

Dad ended his speech that day with the words of Robert F. Kennedy… "Acts of courage shape human history. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lots of others, or strikes out against injustice he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope."

I looked over at our principal and saw the smile of relief on his face. I guess he had been worried that dad would end with a prayer.

"I am proud to be a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation." My dad said…."After the tragedies of September 11th, the world changed. I choose to wear the badge of a special agent because I know we can make a difference. We stand for ideals that strike out against injustice"

Dad paused and then pointed to the three big, black, bold letters on his tee shirt…"I am proud of the message I wear on my shirt. I choose to wear it so others will understand there is an answer…An answer that can shape human history, improve the lots of others and offer hope."

Dad turned and shook hands with our principal. While the audience applauded he walked off the platform and began shaking hands with the students and teachers in the auditorium. Every time Dad shook hands with someone, the applause got louder and louder. By the time he got to the row of seats where I was sitting, the applause was thunderous. I reached out to hug him and he winked at me. That was when I saw the message on his tee shirt. It said….

My dad is a Special Agent for the FBI, but even more important, my dad is a Special Agent for God. I am so very proud of him.