She was a young lady with a dream.

One of a handful of young people who knew where she was going.  She had a goal.  

And nothing was going to stop her from achieving it.

She loved to make people smile.  Apparently, she loved the look on their faces when she did.  

Perhaps she remembered that day when her Dad had a narrow escape at the hands of a drunk driver.  She saw the look of terror on her Dad's face.

And she never wanted to see that look again--on her Dad's face or anyone else's.

That's why she wanted to be a cop.  A Texas DPS trooper.  She wanted to get the drunk drivers off the highway and make the roads safer for everyone.

Including the drunks.

She wanted everyone to smile.

And then it happened.

That dark day in October, 2008 when a drunk driver took her life.

And ended the dream forever.

But the drunk driver didn't count on a few things.

Like the spirit of her parents who were determined that their daughter would not die in vain.

And the spirit of a community that wound its heart around that couple and rallied to help them.

They started an organization to do something about the drunk drivers on our

highways.

Just like she wanted.

It's been  nearly three years since that awful day.

And that organization has made a difference and continues to do so.

And that has put a big smile on her Mom and Dad's faces.

And Meghann Marie Smith's dream has come true.  She didn't let anything stop her.

The head of the Texas DPS has posthumously made their daughter an honorary DPS trooper.

You can see this story unfold on their website, www.dwitracker.com.

In fact, just click on her picture above and she'll take you there.  You can follow the links and be a part of the continuing story yourself.

These people have two dreams--one, to see their daughter become a DPS trooper.  

The other is to see the highways and byways of our land made safe for

everyone--including the drunks.

One came true.  They're still working on the other one.  

And like Meghann Marie Smith, they won't let anything stop them.