I wish to pay tribute to Dennis Meredith, a security officer at the Dublin Airport.  From time to time, there are heroes in our lives who create miracles and turn tragedy into joy.  Let me tell you about DENNIS MEREDITH.  Mrs. Moore and I returned  to the States last week;  we left London on Aer Lingus on a flight to Dublin to catch our trans-Atlantic flight on Aer Lingus to New York.  Mrs. Moore and I were traveling with a great deal of “surplus luggage” because we needed to bring back all the  formal clothing needed for the Queen Mary2 crossing as well as our daily casual clothing from a month in Britain–plus souvenirs, of course.  We had paid overweight and extra luggage charges that seemed excessive and irritating,  followed by irritating American Customs in Dublin rather than in New York.   When my hand luggage went through the security system, the  Irish officer asked me in a very irritating tone to open one of my pieces of  luggage.   I complied with his “scratchy” orders.  He zeroed in on a very important item to our family, and I became very angry.  The Item in question was a very old planer with a metal blade.  The officer told me that I could not take this 150 year old planer on the plane, and Security would confiscate the item.  I stood there in complete silence and refused to pack my hand luggage and refused to accept the security officer’s orders.  I said in very clear English:  I AM GOING NO WHERE WITHOUT THIS FAMILY ITEM.  I told the officer to recall a piece of my checked luggage, and I would pack it in my checked luggage.  He refused and said that would entail an enormous problem trying to find my cases which were now on board the plane.  I refused to budge.  Finally, the security officer went to find his superior who gave me the same story.  By now, there was a huge line held up behind me, and I still refused to budge.  I knew I was going to end up in a Irish jail cell, but I was not turning over something which was important to our family.  Finally, an even higher level security officer was called in.  I could tell from his face that he knew that we had to find a compromise here.  He moved us to a side table, saw the item in question, and said he wanted to see if he could help us.  I looked into his eyes, and I knew I had found a “human being” rather than a “machine” which was having great pleasure seeing my pain.  This new officer’s name is DENNIS MEREDITH who became my hero.  He knew he had regulations and rules, but he also knew that there had to be an answer.  Suddenly, he said, I WILL BE RIGHT BACK.  In a few moments, he returned with a smile on his face, and I knew that this honorable and caring Security Officer had come to my rescue.  He picked up the fabulous antique planer, looked at it carefully, and said:  THE PROBLEM WE ARE HAVING IS THE WOOD CUTTING BLADE IN THE PLANER.  He then pushed the wood shim AND REMOVED THE BLADE.  He handed me the planer without the blade and told me to put it in my hand luggage.  I WAS REALLY CONFUSED at this point.  He said he would be right back.  A few moments later, he came back with bubble wrap and a large padded envelop.  He said:  PUT YOUR ADDRESS ON THIS ENVELOP, and I will personally mail the blade to you, and we will be done with this unpleasant matter.  I stood there with the planer, less the blade, in front of  the three security officers–one a real saint–with tears in my eyes.   He then said:  PLEASE EMAIL ME WHEN IT ARRIVES TO YOUR HOME SO I KNOW THAT IT ARRIVED SAFELY.   He thanked me for my patience, patted me on the back, and sent me on my way.  I will never forget DENNIS MEREDITH–for saving my planer,  of course–but more for being a hero and going far beyond his duty.  It is these kinds of people who turn the world around and make it better.  If we had more people like this in every aspect of our society, wouldn’t it be a better and happier world to live.  I boarded the plane, sat there a moment, and thanked God that a hero, a saint, had touched my life.   I asked the stewardess for a drink as I was feeling very light headed.   I carry Dennis’s  memory in my heart.    The blade arrived yesterday;  it was sitting on my desk when I arrived at my office.  I could not sleep this morning until I had written this wonderful story.  THREE CHEERS FOR DENNIS MEREDITH AT DUBLIN AIRPORT.

MRS. MOORE and I are writing a letter to the American Ambassador in Dublin and to the airport security.  They must know about a special person who works in their midst.

Thomas Moore   email:  TMooreSr@me.com    Telephone:  801.791.9918

http://www.londonconnection.com