I had to have my passport replaced several months ago. It was in a rather tragic state, mostly a result of my travels, but especially due some rather over zealous immigration officers who kept pulling on the photo corner, thus invalidating the passport.
When I sent in my passport I assumed I would receive the old one back. What a surprise! Not only was I not to get the old passport back, but because mine was damaged, I had to have additional confirmations as to who I am.
Personally, I have enjoyed saving all of my past passports, especially the ones bulging with additional leaves due to extensive use. But this last one had a special and poignant memory for me. In it was my September 11th passport stamp serving as a lasting memory of my own experiences on that day.
Here�s where the story becomes interesting: I phoned the passport office asking whether I could have my old passport back. I briefly shared what had happened on that day, which I realise had no point, but I wanted to explain why I wanted it back. The passport officer apologised, but said my old one had already gone to be destroyed in their furnace.
Several days later I received a call from a woman from the passport office. She said that she and her supervisor had felt sorry that I could not receive it back, so they personally went to the document destruction centre and ploughed through about 4800 passports until they found mine. They made colour copies of all the pages and were sending them to me.
I was profoundly touched by their kindness and compassion. It�s something we don�t typically expect from any of our government branches.
It meant a great deal to me and I�ve included it in one of my �memory books� for my children, along with numerous letters I received regarding that day and the lives I touched.
Be well
Fr Bill