In Ocean City, Maryland, that thin blue line quietly begins between two familiar yellow center stripes, then guides drivers straight toward the police department. It’s a simple visual gesture, but charged with meaning: a public thank‑you to officers who walk into danger so others don’t have to. Mayor Rick Sheehan knows his coastal town depends on them to balance the fragile peace between retirees seeking calm and teenagers chasing a wild weekend, and the line is a daily reminder that order doesn’t maintain itself.

For many residents, the blue stripe is both tribute and reassurance. In an era when law enforcement is often at the center of controversy, this small, steady mark on the asphalt says, “We see you. We know what you risk.” Supporters hope other communities will copy the idea, turning an ordinary road into a quiet promise that sacrifice and service will not go unnoticed.