S T O R I E S

John Anderson, whose primary job is Captain of the Castle Rock, Colorado Police Force, was one of 12 police officers, nationwide, invited to be guests of the Vienna, Austria Police Force at their annual Policeman's Ball. All he and wife Lisa had to do was get there to enjoy an all-expenses-paid week in Vienna.
They flew over in January and had a once in a lifetime experience.
First order of business was to attend Viennese Waltz dance lessons, two hours a day for 5 days.
There were 64 police officers and wives or girl friends in the class. A ramrod straight instructor put them through their paces. No mistakes allowed. Stop the music. Do it again and again until perfection achieved.
The end result was that he picked John and Lisa to lead the whole procession in to bow and curtsy to the dignitaries and perform the waltz for 2,500 spectators.
John and Lisa became good friends with one of the Vienna officers and he confided to them that there was some opposition to inviting Americans because of the ugly, arrogant perception of Americans in general expressed by the media over there. He said they were pleasantly surprised to find that Americans were really wonderful, gracious, fun people to be with and hoped they would come back to visit again and again.
The fact that John also manages the 6,500 acre JA Cattle Ranch near Larkspur, Colorado was of great interest to the Viennese people. They were fascinated as John explained some of the details of the cattle business and how American ranchers are stewards of the land on which they raise horses and cattle.
They were given tours of all the sights in that great city, were hosted by the Mayor, and even taken into the private residence of the American Ambassador. As a special treat for their American guests, a special band played for them one night. The band members were all attired in authentic WW II American GI uniforms and replicated the Glenn Miller Band in appearance and the music they played. There was even a Trio singing as the Andrews Sisters. It was a very touching and nostalgic evening.
John has no idea how he was picked for this event, although the fact that he was chosen to be on the Security Detail for both President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney when they made their respective trips to Denver, probably had something to do with it.
It was an experience John and Lisa will never forget.

Written by Dale & Sharon Boggie, Proud Parents April 6, 2009