Cup of Blue began about seven years ago when our son, SCHP Trooper D. Keith Rebman Jr. was working on the coast of South Carolina helping to evacuate the coast from an incoming hurricane. While parked on the side of a very busy expressway, a lady pulled over in front of him and brought him a cup of coffee. I could just see his "deer in the head lights eyes" and then his beautiful smile of thanks. He was SO excited that the call I received from him that afternoon was FULL of that cup of coffee. Over and over he played that simple act of kindness in his mind.

 

I have to admit that I was happy for him, but I didn't get it - not until much later. On October 24, 2017, we received that call that no parent ever wants to get. That afternoon, we said our final goodbyes and our world totally shattered. Over the next few months, I started remembering conversations I had with him and the above story came alive to me. There were days that the only reason I could get up was the hope of blessing an Officer with a small token of appreciation. I cannot tell you how many of those "deer in the headlight eyes" I saw. There were times I could not speak, so I would just hand them a small gift and a Memory Card of our son. Most days I received hugs, smiles and hand shakes. The more I gave, the more I lived.

 

As time has moved forward, I have made some life-time friends. They know we care. They know we are here. They know we appreciate them. They know we are eventually going to feed them! We love it.