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Two former security forces members never imagined their paths would cross again years later with the 569th U.S. Forces Police Squadron.
Eddie Schaeffer of Tucson, Ariz., an architect and former 569th USFPS member, flew to Germany to give the squadron a paver from a memorial in Tucson honoring another 569th member, Erik Hite, a Tucson police officer who died in the line of duty a year earlier.
“This paver represents a keystone of the design,” said Mr. Schaeffer, who also designed the memorial. “It’s the final stone and connects the person who designed the memorial to the person for which the memorial was designed.”
Mr. Schaeffer said in the beginning he wasn’t sure who to give the paver to, but then decided to take it to the place where their paths had first crossed.
“I knew Erik through the 569th U.S. Forces Police Squadron, so for me it only seemed appropriate the missing paver go there,” he said.
Mr. Schaeffer removed the paver from the path at the memorial – a path he said represents the community giving back to their fallen police officer.
“People had a way to give back. For $25 they could buy a paver and have it engraved,” he said. “These pavers, individually they’re stones, but collectively they form a path. This collection of pavers is a symbolic representation of reciprocating the generosity Erik gave in his professional life.”
One security forces member who recently retired from the 569th and who also served with Mr. Hite said he recalled what it was like to serve with him.
“He was what you would consider a good patrolman,” said retired Master Sgt. Daniel Paine, former 569th USFPS non-commissioned officer in charge of investigations. “There are certain people in the police world you want as backup and there are a lot of other ones you don’t. Erik was one of the people you wanted to come out as your backup.”
Mr. Hite’s dedication to the job was another reason why Mr. Schaeffer said he brought the paver to Germany.
“To some, it might seem a little outrageous to take a stone all the way across the ocean, but for me, I believe this is what Erik would do,” Mr. Schaeffer said.
Though many of the security
forces members at the 569th USFPS are new, they will always have a connection to Mr. Hite.
“The paver puts a link between parts of Erik’s life,” said Capt. Justin Secrest, 569th USFPS operations officer and acting deputy. “The paver links the memorial there in Tucson and his love for what he did there back to here in Germany to a unit he spent a part of his life in.
“Many of the members stationed here today would never have known Erik, but yet they still feel a bond because of what we do,” Captain Secrest added.
The plaque will be mounted in a place of honor where security forces members through the ages will be able to stay connected and remember a fellow comrade who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to his country.
