Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

William,
On today, the 102nd anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just as a LEO but for our Country as well when you served with the U.S. Armed Forces-especially during the Spanish-American War. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

December 19, 2019

Today is the 100th anniversary of your ultimate sacrifice. You will be long remembered, and your assailants are already long forgotten. Thank you Railroad Policeman William Applestiel for you service.

Stan Jefferson
Citizen of Arizona

December 19, 2017

Rest In Peace Brother. After 100 years you are not forgotten.

Officer Mike Robinson, (Ret)
Upland Police Dept. CA

December 19, 2017

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 94th anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer who was murdered in the the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.He was also your fellow Marine so I also bid you semper fi.

Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered.

Rest In Peace.

Phyllis Loya
Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

December 19, 2011

Policeman Applestiel, I just read what Mr. Gorrell wrote. He gave us an opportunity to get to know a fallen hero just a little more. We know so little of our Brothers and Sisters from the past and who they truly were. This little bit of insight makes you all the more real, even after all these years.

You served your nation on at least three levels and I thank you for all of it. We can only hope that those responsible for your death faced true justice, if not in this then in the next life.

On this 91st anniversary of your murder at the hands of common thugs who posed as respectable railroad men, I simply want to say, Rest Well, Brother and God Bless.

Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr.
Harvard University Police Dept.

December 19, 2008

You are remembered today and thank you Sir for your service

Pat Van Den Berghe, Manchester, NH
Neighbors for a Better Manchester, NH

December 10, 2007

I would like to contact a family member. His death was in 1917. If there are any surviving children or grandchildren I would appreciate someone contact me.

Bill R. Stairs
Chief Special Agent BNSF Police

June 11, 2007

I only know of William through family history research. He was born on January 4, 1872 in Baltimore, Maryland and was age 4 when his father Augustus, a cavalry trooper, was killed in the Dakota Territory. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1892 serving at several posts and aboard the USS Minneapolis. In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, he enlisted in the US Army. His enlistment papers show he had been a barber in civilian life, was 5 foot 7 inches tall, with blue eyes, dark brown hair, fair complexion, and weighed 132 pounds. He can be found the 1910 census, living in a boarding house in Otter, Alaska. Then in 1917 he came to a violent end in Washington State while on duty as a railroad police. William is buried in Loudon Park Cemetery, in Baltimore, with his mother Sophia, sisters Ida and Fannie and brother-in-law S. Wilson Gorrell, Sr. His military tombstone shows he served in the 16th Infantry, US Army and died December 19, 1917. Kenneth Gorrell, Baltimore Maryland, great-great-grandnephew of William.

Thank you very much to all those involved in establishing this memorial site, especially those volunteers I worked with directly; Karen and Rae Anna.

Kenneth Gorrell
Great-great-grandnephew

April 27, 2007

resy easy policeman applestell ... we've got the watch

May 25, 2005