Dick Cheney Gets Top Honors as Federal Law Enforcement
Foundation Holds its 23rd Annual Luncheon
By Frank Parlato
 |
| Dick Cheney will receive the Lifetime Service to America Award. |
 |
| Raymond Kelly - New York City Police Commissioner |
Former Vice President Dick Cheney will receive the Lifetime of Service to America Award from the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation (FLEF) on Friday, as a select audience, a virtual who's who of law enforcement, philanthropists, leaders of business, politicians and celebrities gather together in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria to witness the event.
This will be the premier and crowning achievement of another year of FLEF's dedicated service to law enforcement, a service rendered mainly in modest tribute to brave men and women who have fallen in the line of duty for America and her laws.
While FLEF, and its board of directors, do little in the way of publicizing the work that they do, of giving aid to the families of any and all who have fallen, and aid to their children when they wish to go to school, and help for those who were injured doing their duty, it is once a year, they come out and revel in achievement and toast brave success and remember the fallen.
It will be Vice President Cheney who will be among those who receive the award this year, the honoree whose presence will honor the assembled crowd of law enforcement officers and their well wishers.
He is Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney, the 46th Vice President of the United States, serving under President George W. Bush.
Elected five times to Congress, representing Wyoming. And Secretary of Defense under George H. W. Bush. He oversaw Operation Desert Storm.
He was chairman and CEO of Halliburton Company.
And he was there, the number two man in the nation, during the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks.
He directed the United States invasion of Panama.
He dispatched the first U.S. troops to Somalia to provide security and food relief during their civil war.
In 1991 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Probably, no, not probably, he was the most powerful Vice President in American history. He stood out among them wherever he went; the first and last counselor of presidents.
Sensible, shrewd, knowledgeable, conservative, a thinker; when compared to Darth Vader by critics, Cheney turned it on them and adopted the appellation for himself.
A man set in history, defined by himself, only.
Here was the man who helped America inaugurate the 21 century.
He was a bull among the herd.
And he will be honored by the 1500, the heads of major law enforcement agencies, federal, state, local, and again, prosecutors, federal, state and local, the cream of law enforcement, in the historic Grand Ballroom.
Cheney will get the Lifetime of Service to America Award.
It was Anthony Bergamo who established The Federal Law Enforcement Foundation in 1988 in order to provide financial assistance to the families of law enforcement officers who lost their lives, were killed in the line of a duty that could see any of them on any day fall.
Bergamo, a lawyer, Vice Chairman of MB Real Estate, Chief Executive Officer of Niagara Falls Redevelopment, and a host of other positions, is once again, the host of the event.
And when the luncheon speeches commence, Bergamo will stand behind the podium.
He seems to talk directly to law enforcement present, about their being of service to America, that "We are not here because you are worthless, it’s because you are priceless," and "We are grateful for anyone who supports us in terms of this work" and "We are here for you, the men and women of law enforcement."
Then that's it. That’s the whole speech:
"I’m Anthony Bergamo and I have been on the Board for 25 years," then he will turn and say, “I would like to introduce our first guest”.
He introduced Bill Clinton a few years back with “Ladies and Gentlemen I would like to introduce President Bill Clinton.”
That was it.
This year, former Los Angeles Dodger manager, and Baseball Hall of Famer, Tommy La Sorda, will be Master of Ceremonies.
Among other honorees will be the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, Raymond Walter Kelly, who will receive the Lifetime of Service to New York Award.
A lifelong New Yorker, Kelly spent 43 years in the NYPD, serving in 25 different commands and, as Police Commissioner twice, first from 1992 to 1994 under Mayor David Dinkins, and again from 2002 - present under Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Kelly will receive his award from FELF board member John A. Catsimatidis, owner, president, chairman, and CEO of Gristedes Foods, the largest grocery chain in Manhattan, and the Red Apple Group.
This year the International Friendship Award will go to Aluf Meir Dagan, the former Israel Defense Forces officer and former Director-General of the Mossad.
In 1971, he received a Medal of Courage for tackling a wanted terrorist holding a live grenade. He fought in the Yom Kippur War, the Lebanon War, and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon appointed him Director-General of Mossad in 2002.Dagan serves today as the director of the Israel Port Authority.
The Lifetime Medical Award will go to Turkish-American cardiothoracic surgeon, author, and television personality, Dr. Mehmet Cengiz oz, who hosts the Dr. Oz Show, a television program focusing on medical issues and personal health.
Gregory Friedman, the Inspector General of US. Dept of. Energy since 1998, is also to receive an award.
At the end of the day, the event is not only about awards, it is also a gathering of unique and heroic people.
"You walk into a room filled with 1500 people," Bergamo said. "It will make you proud to be an American and proud to be part of the Foundation."
For law enforcement and the families of its fallen, perhaps the feeling is mutual.
For 25 years, FLEF has been there, giving out gifts to these families during their day of need.
And of these more buoyant events, even these have a certain practical purpose.
As Bergamo explains, "By bringing together law enforcement agents and officers from different agencies, they get a chance to tell their stories; how they hire; how they recruit; how they train; what is there, each in their own words, their responsibilities, duties, goals; it's an opportunity to speak and to learn from each other in a positive manner."
To form a network for law enforcement, to support their good deeds, and to help their families, to help their children, that is the goal of FLEF.
When they have fallen in the line of duty, FLEF awards money to the family. They have never refused a request for help.
Over the years FLEF has buried many officers.
Bergamo remembers two in one week.
"It was difficult, but it had to be done."
