Lyrics to For Good from the musical Wicked sum up our thoughts today:

Because I knew you,

I have been changed for good.

Fallen officers

We recognize that the men and women who choose law enforcement as a career are putting their lives in danger.

Last week was National Police Week. A ceremony in Columbia Park on Saturday honored fallen officers.

We add our voice of appreciation to those who serve and protect -- for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and for all of those who could on any given day.

We don't say thank you often enough for what is often a thankless job.

Patricia Roach

The headline announcing her death describes Pat Roach as a "well-known Tri-Citian." That's a fair comment but greatly understated.

But we'll give the headline writers a break. (They aren't supposed to express opinion. That's a privilege reserved for this page and we intend to take full advantage of it.)

So here are a few adjectives we would like to add to describe Patricia's character: hardworking, generous, devoted and tireless.

In September we put used space to wish Roach a happy 90th birthday.

Today, we are just glad that we knew her.

Ernie Boston

Another "well-known Tri-Citian" in the news this week is Ernie Boston, who announced his retirement from the Port of Pasco.

Port of Pasco Commission President Jim Klindworth ranks Boston as one of the top commissioners the port has ever had.

If we were to give him a report card, we also would rank Boston tops in several categories, including his community service, his genteel manner, his professional and personal attitude of service and respect.

Boston has been a foundation in this community -- one that countless others have built upon.

We have Boston to thank for much of what TRIDEC is today. The Port of Pasco has flourished under his watch. And he's one of a pretty elite club known as Tri-Citians of the Year.

We wish you well on your recovery from surgery and in your retirement from the port, Ernie. And, from us to you, thanks.

Class of 2012

Next weekend will be high school graduation for most of the Mid-Columbia. We are grateful for these young people and have great hope for these future leaders of our community.

At this time of year, we're grateful for all parents, teachers, leaders and friends of our youth who have mentored and encouraged them for the past 18 years.

We're also grateful for a terrific bunch of kids.

The pages of the Tri-City Herald have been full the past few weeks of stories about "our village's" kids.

And since these graduates are the collective "our" kids, we're soliciting advice from the community to the new graduates for this week's Fast Focus.

Comments are due this morning. So jump on the computer right now, and send your best advice for the Class of 2012 to forum@tricityherald.com.

We're guessing there will be a lot of gratitude expressed in the coming week. And certainly some "thank yous" will be left unsaid.

But we're going on record today by saying that even though many of these mentors will never know exactly how they have touched our students' lives, we know these many graduates have been changed For Good.