Sometimes the most heartfelt ideas come at unexpected times and remote locations. Such is the case of one Lake Region State College graduate who decided to make an impact with North Dakota law enforcement families.
One cold snowy day this past winter, Amanda Helgeson was traveling to Carrington, ND, for work. While driving, she listed to a satellite radio show describing the Blue Line Bears project. That radio snippet tugged at her heart and she wondered how she could make a difference with these cuddly creatures.
Blue Line Bears is a nonprofit organization with the goal of helping the children of fallen Law Enforcement officers cope with the devastating loss of a parent. The stuffed bears are made from the officer’s uniform.
Law enforcement officers hold a special spot for Amanda. While attending Lake Region State College, one of Amanda’s jobs was nanny for a policeman’s family in Devils Lake. She also babysat for a few other officers in town.
“Being a nanny, I worked countless hours, made sure the children were well taken care of, had dinner on the table, homework done, bathed and tucked in at night and cleaned up the house so their father didn’t have to do that after a long day. I remember one night tucking them in and giving them hugs and one of the kids said, ‘I hope my daddy returns home safe tonight.’,” Helgeson said.
With tears rolling down her cheeks, she left the child’s room. The statement from the child forever in her heart. That is why when Amanda heard about Blue Line Bears on the radio that winter morning, she knew this was something she had to do for these families if they allowed.
The words of that child left a lasting impression and, when teamed with the radio show on the bears, Helgeson couldn’t help but think of Colt Allery’s family, a North Dakota deputy whose life had been cut short much too soon.
“I thought to myself on the 30 miles I had left to drive to Carrington was I had to check this out and see what I could do to help keep the memories of Deputy Colt Allery alive and also his four children, so they could have something of his to keep for life.”
Amanda called Lake Region state College Peace Officer Training Director John Maritato the next day and asked for his assistance in making this a reality for the Allery family.
Maritato contacted Nathan Gustafson, an LRSC Peace Officer Training graduate and Sheriff of Rolette County, and told him what Helgeson wanted to do. Soon, uniform shirts and patches were on the way to Amanda who then contacted Blue Line Bears.
The shirts were cut, sewn and stuffed into a teddy bear. Additionally, a personalized badge with the officer’s last name and badge number is sewn on the bear’s stomach while the officer’s Department patch will be stitched onto the back of the bear. If the officer had stripes for rank or service, those adorn the bear as well.
Finally, each bear will be given a St. Michael medal and blessed by a priest before being mailed to the family.
When the bears arrived this spring, Helgeson and Maritato delivered the bears and certificates to the Allery family.
“Everyone was overwhelmed with emotion and thought that having Amanda and I present the bears was a wonderful idea,” Maritato said.
Sherriff Gustafson, Rolette County Sheriff’s Dept. and surrounding agencies attended the presentation of bears.
Children of law enforcement officers grow up realizing that their parent’s life is at risk every day they go to work.
“Blue Line Bears will not only provide a lasting keepsake to help keep the officer’s memory alive, but will also help their child to see that there are caring individuals who respect and appreciate men and women in uniform. Children of officers killed in the line of duty are oftentimes young, perhaps too young to remember the parent who died. For those children, a bear from Blue Line Bears will provide a tangible reminder that their loved one will always be with them.”