Gabby Rothman

🎣 Cops & Bobbers hooks kids on community connections |

Fort Pierce's first Cops & Bobbers Youth Fishing Event reeled in smiles and strengthened bonds between local youth and law enforcement at the Yacht Club! 🐟👮‍♂️

What’s your favorite way to connect with the community?




Read More Here: https://www.hometownnewstc.com/multimedia/photo_galleries/st_lucie/cops-bobbers-hooks-kids-on-community-connections/article_13551cc9-9d34-5b64-bde8-94c98c4449a2.html

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Happy Father’s Day in heaven, Dad. As the proud daughter of a United States Air Force veteran who died while serving his country, veterans have always been a part of my life.

My father, Technical Sergeant (TSgt) Ralph Harold Emers, came to America from the small Caribbean island of Aruba with a dream.

He learned English, raised a family, and proudly served the United States Air Force. Technical Sergeant Ralph Harold Emers served our nation for 23 years. Military life was how he saw himself. It was a life choice, not a job.

To many, he was an Airman. To me, he was simply Dad, and his service, sacrifice, and love continue to guide me every day of my life.

He spoke five languages, was incredibly intelligent, soft-spoken, and, on good days, kind. He believed in duty, sacrifice, and serving something greater than himself.

I was born at Dover Air Force Base Hospital in Delaware. Growing up in a military family meant moving more times than I can count. Military families serve too. We follow orders, pack boxes, say goodbye to friends, and build new lives wherever duty calls.

I also know the pain that military service can bring to a family.

When I was a little girl, two officers in white Class A uniforms came to our door. They were there to deliver a death notice that my father had died while serving in Germany.

“We regret to inform you...” is all I remember hearing. In fear, I took off running because I wanted to find him. Time stopped on May 23, 1974. It is a moment and an image I will never forget.

For those unfamiliar with the military, Dover Air Force Base is also home to the nation’s mortuary affairs operations, where America’s fallen service members' bodies are received with dignity and honor.

My father’s final journey passed through Dover AFB. That day was not a celebration. It was a heartbreaking reminder of the true cost of service.

My father received a full military funeral with a 21-gun salute, an American flag draped over his coffin, and he was laid to rest in Riverview Memorial Park in Fort Pierce, Florida, alongside his parents, my grandparents.

Fort Pierce is my home. It is where my family’s roots run deep and where generations of my family rest. Jerry never got to meet my Dad, nor did he have the chance to ask for my Dad's permission to marry me.

Perhaps that is why veteran su***de and veteran loss are not just statistics to me. They are personal.

Behind every veteran is a family that loves them. A spouse. A child. A parent. A friend. People who would give anything for one more conversation, one more hug, or one more day.

Supporting veterans is not something we simply say. It is something we do.
It is more than Veterans Day ceremonies, social media posts, or patriotic slogans. It is answering the phone when someone calls.

It is checking in when someone becomes quiet. It is helping carry a burden when life becomes too heavy. It is making sure our veterans know they are seen, valued, and never alone.

Many veterans have carried responsibilities and experiences most of us will never fully understand. I never truly knew everything my father saw or carried during his years of service. Veterans protect our freedoms, often at a tremendous personal cost.

The least we can do is stand beside them when they need us. Sometimes that means offering help. Sometimes it simply means sitting quietly, listening, and letting them know they do not have to face their struggles alone.

If you are a veteran reading this and you are struggling, please hear me.

Your story is not over.

Your life has value.

Your family needs you.

Your community needs you.

Some people care deeply about you, even when the weight of the world tries to convince you otherwise.

And for the rest of us, let this be a reminder that honoring our veterans requires more than gratitude. It requires presence. It requires compassion. It requires action.

Because no veteran who was willing to stand for us should ever feel like they have to stand alone.

PTSD is real. If you need someone, call me. I may not have all the answers, but I will listen. Sometimes that is where healing begins.

My Dad would not expect less from me. And I would not expect less from my son, Alec, too.

With gratitude and respect,

Gabby Rothman
Daughter of a United States Air Force Veteran

For more than 30 years, I've worked behind the scenes inside public systems, helping solve problems, manage operations, and serve our community.

I've seen government at its best and at its worst. I've seen what works, what doesn't, and why residents often feel disconnected from the decisions that affect their daily lives.

As a business owner, public service professional, and lifelong St. Lucie County resident, I believe people deserve clear information, honest conversations, and leaders who remain engaged and show up.

That's why I'm excited to launch my new website www.gabbyrothman.com. You'll find my weekly articles, community updates, local events, leadership insights, and practical information about issues impacting St. Lucie County.

No noise. No spam. Just thoughtful perspectives, community connections, and opportunities to stay informed and involved.

I hope you'll stop by, explore the site, and sign up to stay connected. I'd love to hear what issues matter most to you.'.