That is a very special photo that appears on the front page of today's print edition of the Daily Times.
But I have a confession to make.
It wasn't supposed to appear today. It actually was supposed to be on Sunday's front page.
It depicts wounded Folcroft Officer Chris Dorman offering a thumb's up from his hospital room in Penn Presbyterian Hospital in Philly, where he continues to recover after being hit by seven bullets when he was ambushed after responding to a call about drug activity in the borough.
The photo was given to us by Folcroft police. I had planned for it to grace Sunday's front page as the county continued to offer relief that Officer Dorman was going to make a full recovery.
Why it did not is one of those editor's nightmares that take place in the news business today that never would have happened a few years ago. Let me just say it was a combination of technology and communications issues that led to the snafu.
My heart sank early Sunday when I fired up the laptop and checked the electronic version of the paper, only to see that another photo had been used on the front page.
I was not the only one disappointed. A lot of people around Folcroft were expecting to see that photo on the front page.
That's only one of the reasons we decided to use it today.
First and foremost, we're also happy that Dorman is not only recovering, but actually is expected to be released from the hospital today. We'll offer full coverage if and when he does, including the special homecoming they have planned to welcome him back on his home turf in Folcroft.
All you need to know about Delaware County and the people who live and work here was on display in the hours following Dorman's shooting. Saturday night, several hundreds people gathered at the Folcroft Municipal Building for a vigil to honor Dorman.
Let me be the first to say, 'Welcome home, Chris.'
Delco could not be prouder.
And the Daily Times is proud of the photo of you on today's front page.
Even if it took us a day longer than we originally planned.
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