Sirens flashed and rang as Gulf Shores Police vehicles drove on the Gulf Shores Expressway early in the morning of June 19. But they were not for an emergency event or some catastrophe. They were celebrating something deeply American.

GSPD Police Chief Dan Netemayer led a surprise police escort for Olympian Leigh Anne Landrum, 42, who was heading to the airport to fly to Minnesota for the 2026 Special Olympian USA Games.

She was the only Gulf Shores athlete chosen to compete in this year's Special Olympics.

The Special Olympics USA Games took place in Minnesota from June 20-26, with "3,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers and 75,000 fans from all 50 states," according to its website. Landrum qualified to represent her country and city at the State Championships at Troy University, where she won a gold medal for the 200 meter, a gold for the 100 meter and won a silver medal and bronze medal for her relay events.

In addition to her medals, she was locally gifted a Thin Blue Line flag from GSPD, which was signed by all the police officers.

Landrum has a passion for flags, specifically American flags, and has been collecting them all her life, she said.

She also helps retire flags that are too old around the Gulf Shores community. She collects and drops them off at local flag disposing locations such as the American Legion, which then burn them in a "respectful" ceremony.

"She is dear to us, and anyone who knows Leigh Anne knows she's a familiar, joyful face around the police department," said in a Facebook post by the Gulf Shores Police Department.

Tracy Marmolejo, her mother, said she is "constantly overwhelmed" by the support the Gulf Shores community provides for Leigh Anne.

"She feels comfortable and safe in a community that understands her and accepts her and finds the good that she can bring to people," Marmolejo said.

Originally from Dallas, Texas, Landrum has lived in Gulf Shores for the last five years, but prior to that she had been visiting every July since she was 7.

Part of the main reason Marmolejo and Landrum moved from Texas to Gulf Shores was because of Landrum's love and commitment for swimming.

"She learned to swim when she was 5 and was a fish," Marmolejo said.

Landrum has been swimming competitively for about 20 years and has competed in a number of state and national championships in Texas and Alabama. When Landrum moved to Gulf Shores, she and Marmolejo found the Gulf Shores Starfish Swim Team almost immediately.

The Starfish are a Special Olympics team hosted at Bodenhamer Recreation Center year-round.

At the Special Olympic USA Games, Landrum earned seventh place in her 200-meter freestyle event, third place in her 4x25 freestyle mixed relay and seventh place in her 100 yard freestyle. In her 200 freestyle, she earned a personal best time of 4:42. She said her favorite part about the competition was competing the best she can, and she would "love to do it again."

"That's what it's about — for her to speak out and be able to speak up about what she does because it's giving other children that opportunity to see, 'look what you can do,'" Marmoljo said.