This past Saturday my sons and I participated in the third annual Trash Attack and Graffiti Wipeout, a citywide community effort to remove litter, trash, and graffiti in Dallas.

The program is the brainchild of Angela Hunt, District 14's Dallas City Councilmember, although former District 9 Councilman Gary Griffith also had a hand in the inaugural Wipeout, and Saturday's cleanup was a huge success.

Many groups took part, including some Peak Academy Preparatory students, a group of St. Thomas Aquinas families as well as others who had participated in prior cleanups.

There are seven zones of the city to choose from and we chose the East Dallas DPD Storefront on Bryan Street.

We got instructions and our assignments. I, of course, asked for the scariest neighborhood; one that required a two-officer chaperone.

I'll jump at any chance I can impress upon my kids how lucky they are to live in this neighborhood. Officer Myers — a true man in blue who is totally focused on his duties to serve and protect — and Officer Gadberry — a physical therapist who suits up in her blue polyester suit and bullet-proof vest for fun on her days off — served as our escorts.