Turning police badges pink
Something weird happened to the Blooming Prairie Police Department’s badges over the weekend. They turned pink.
To show support for a fellow officer’s family touched by cancer and to participate in the busy weekend of Blooming Prairie Cancer Group Paint BP Pink awareness events, officers and the chief made their badges turn pink.
The pink ribbon is an international symbol of breast cancer awareness. Pink ribbons, and the color pink in general, identify the wearer or promoter with the breast cancer brand and express moral support for women with breast cancer.
Stephanie Miller, wife of police officer Matt Miller, has been battling cancer and underwent surgery and treatment for breast cancer early this past summer. Two successful benefits were staged for the Millers in April.
Blooming Prairie Police Corporal Jake Peterson said he saw custom badges available on the Internet. “We checked with the guys and all agreed to purchase pink badges to pay tribute to cancer victims,” Peterson said. All officers knew about the drive to buy pink badges, except officer Miller. “We all chipped in to buy his badge,” Peterson said.
All officers, pinned by Stephanie under the Big Tent Friday night during the early part of the cancer auction, wore the pink badges during the cancer awareness weekend. Officers will also wear the pink badges during the entire months of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“It’s something we wanted to do,” remarked Police Chief Greg Skillestad. “We’ve all been touched by cancer in one way or another,” said Peterson. He said his father is a cancer survivor and said two of his grandparents died of cancer.
Officer Miller was told by Chief Skillestad to report to the Big Tent near the Cue Company at 7 p.m. to perform a detail. He was accompanied by his wife Stephanie and by children, Claudia and Landon. “We came to support the Blooming Prairie Cancer Group and to give back a little,” Stephanie said.
The pink badge secret was kept close to the vest until Officer Miller saw all of his police colleagues show up at the Big Tent.
The auction which had already started was temporarily halted to allow the police officers to accept their badges. Officer Miller was first pinned by his wife Stephanie. She then also pinned Chief Skillestad, Corporal Peterson and officers Dan Peach, Rick Ellingson and Shane St. John. Sgt. Mark Lang was absent.
Stephanie said she is doing “extremely well” following her surgery and treatment. She is a social worker in the primary care unit of the Mayo health care center in Austin.
Officer Miller said cancer patients often may feel like they are alone but he said his family never got that feeling. “We were not alone and the BP Cancer Group came running with support,” Miller stated.
He said he vividly remembers being at Rochester for his wife’s treatment and seeing faces in the waiting room of people, many showing pity and horror. “We knew right then that we were not alone,” Miller said.
The BP Cancer Group helped with the first benefit that was held in Blooming Prairie. “This support group makes it a lot easier and they lift up this city,” Miller said. “I cannot say enough for those who are fighting this disease,” he added.
Miller said the BP Cancer Group helps people with their financial and emotional struggles.
“We were completely humbled by what the BP Cancer Group does,” Miller said. “We have been so blessed and without the Cancer Group, we would have felt alone. We are especially proud of the city of Blooming Prairie. It’s great and we cannot believe the generosity of those who give to the Cancer Group.”
Matt and Stephanie met when both were attending Winona State University 14 years ago. The Millers have been married nine years.