Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Dear Brian,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well you would be 33 years old today and so many memories of the past to hold on too. There will never be any more new ones to make in this life. Our memories stopped when you were 20 years old but I know you are waiting for me alive in my future in heaven. Its days like this that you feel even more cheated at such a senseless act that did not have to happen. Kendall has had to grow up without you only to help us keep your memory alive of what she can remember of you. She misses her brother so very much. She will be getting married in Sept and would give anything for you to have been there. We miss you so much and love you dearly. We will go to your grave today and put new flowers on for that's the only birthday present we can give you now. I love you so much!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Love
Mom

Tammy Persin

January 14, 2013

Dear Brian,
I meant to say Coach Bear Bryant. I hit the wrong key typing too fast. I had to get that legend of a name corrected! You were very missed and daddy missed you and all the times the two of you had together watching the games over the years. Love you so much.

ROLL TIDE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 15 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Mom

Tammy Persin

January 8, 2013

Dear Brian,
We won the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AGAIN!
You would be so proud of Alabama and we missed getting to share that moment with you again. This makes 15 and we would have give anything to watch you tell them how to play from the living room. I remember your picture got put in the news paper when you were in grade school for dressing like Couch Bear Bryant. We miss you so much and love you. Just had to brag on the Boys.

Sending you a Great Big ROLL TIDE!
We love you
Mom

Tammy Persin

January 8, 2013

Merry Chlristmas to you and all of your loved ones. I know that by now you have hooked up with my son and listening to his war stories, he loved telling his tales. Hope he isn't driving you crazy with them. Earlier this month was our Candle Lighting Ceremony for Bereaved Parents and I have several law enforcement officers that I add, you being one of them. Someone came up to me after the program and asked if you were killed in the Line of Duty as a Soldier, I then tell them your story. It is a way of keeping your memory alive by telling others about you. Continue to keep watch over all of your loved ones.

Bob Goordon
Father of Chicago Fallen Officer: Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

December 25, 2012

Dear Brian,
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
We miss you so very much and would give anything to have you back for only a few minutes! Our holidays will never be the same without you here to share them with. All of our memories of you are past memories that we cherish and keep close to our hearts. There will never be any new memories to make with you on this earth and I hope that the ones that have that chance to make new memories with their children everyday will realize just how blessed they are. Our hearts break all the time but holidays are just a little harder to get through and the only thing we get to share with you is to go to your grave and take flowers. I still nurse the plants from your funeral twelve years ago to hold on to some sort of life of you from this earth. Life seems so unfair and people forget and move on as though nothing ever happened and all I can say is they have never walked in our shoes and cannot even begin to know the pain. For those of you who have your children and love ones you are truly blessed and to make every minute count. We miss you so much and love you!

Merry Christmas
Mom, Ken, Kendall

Tammy Persin

December 25, 2012

Thank you for your service and for helping to make America a safer place.

Deputy Brian Jones
Boulder County Sheriff's Office, CO

December 15, 2012

Dear Brian,
There was such a tragic shooting yesterday that took the lives of so many innocent children and adults. My heart feels heavily burden for all those families and the horrible unimaginable pain and emptiness that will never leave their hearts. You never get rid of the pain but you learn to try and accept what you cannot change. No one knows the pain of loosing a child at any age and to such a senseless act that did not have to happen! Unless you have walked in a parents shoes that has lost their child you cannot even begin to comprehend the heart wrenching pain that the parents will always carry in their heart and the longing to kiss and hold them just one more time. It brought back memories when you were taken from us of how each stage of pain would come over time. I knew exactly how those parents felt of not being able to get to their child and some how let them know you are there. Most people would not understand what I had to do to help me to over that feeling of not being able to protect you or be there with you when you died. I remember going back to FT Polk on the anniversary of your death and at the time of the crash in the early morning hours before daylight I laid on the ground in the spot where you laid. In my mothers heart it was the only way I could come to the peace of letting you know I would have been there to hold you if I could have. I know some people would have never done that but each parent is different and each parent has to do what they feel is right in their heart to help them with the healing process. Its been 12 years and every day I wake up with you on my mind and through the day and when I go to bed your one of the last things I think about. Some people say maybe Im not moving on fast enough but until you have walked in a parents shoes you will never understand! No matter at what age a child will always be a parents child in their eyes and the pain will always be the same no matter how you lose them. WE cannot change what happen no matter how bad our hearts long too and I have learned that God always gives strength when we need it the most. We try and hold on to the memories of years gone by and keep them tucked safe in our hearts. I guess this tragic nightmare for those families just brought back the memories of the pain when you learn your child is gone forever from this earth and there will never be any new memories to be made and what they would have become in life. You feel so cheated and as time goes on people move on and they will forget! I have to remember its just the way humans are and we will never forget you and will always keep your memory alive. A hero never dies as long as they are remembered and you will always be our hero. You are just one breath away in our future waiting on us and No one can take that away!
I love and miss you so much!
Mom

Tammy Persin

December 15, 2012

Brian,

You would be so proud once again of Alabama. We are SEC champs! Now on to the big one and hopefully we will hold the title
two years in a row! Missed you being here so much.
ROLL TIDE

I love you
Mom

Tammy Persin

December 1, 2012

Dear Brian,
Yes our team Alabama beat Auburn once again! You would be so proud. Wish you were here to watch it with us! We miss you so very much!

I love you
Mom

Tammy Persin

November 24, 2012

Wishing you and all of your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving. I know their thoughts today will be mainly about you so wrap your wings around them and help them with their grief. You have not been forgotten.

Bob Gorodn
Father of Fallen Chicago Officer: Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

November 22, 2012

I salute you for your servce to this Country. Your tour may have been short but you volunteered to protect all of us and for that I respect and admire you. Thank you for your service. Continue to wrap your wings around all of your loved ones and help them with their grief, protect them. You have not been forgotten.

Bob Gordon
Father of Fallen Chicago Officer: Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

November 12, 2012

Dear Brian,

I wanted to thank you for your service and your sacrifice to this nation. You only got to serve six months but you were so proud to serve. Its such a shame for your life to be taken because someone else didn't take the time to realize what their actions could cause. The suffering from day to day is almost unbearable and our family has to live with their actions. People seem to forget as time moves on but I can promise you one thing we will NEVER FORGET YOU! The promises some people have made seem to fade away as time goes on. The days like this Veterans Day really gets to me for all that has been taken from our family. We are not the only ones who suffer their are many more families who have to carry this burden of living without their love ones. Thank you to all those that have served still serving and that gave their all their life! Missing you so much!

I love you
mom

Tammy Persin

November 11, 2012

Dear Brian,
Just got through watching one of my favorite movies called the " Christmas Visitor ". I will never forget the first time I saw it on TV. No matter how many times I have watched it I still cry as usual. That movie hits so close to home and my heart and so many memories our family has shared through the years. Funny thing is the Christmas Star in the movie is just like the one we have and he was killed on Mill Pond road and you were killed on Mill Creek road! In real life I wish you could come back just to be with us for just a few minutes. We miss you so much each and every day and the Holidays are so hard to see the empty chair you should be sitting in and making new memories and by now I should have had Grand Children to share it with. Instead our memories stopped on 8 /9 / 2000 in such a Tragic and Horrible way that still brings so much pain that it is almost UNBEARABLE to think about or live with. In the movie their pain also kept their family from enjoying holidays and at times we have been guilty of the same thing. Life does go on and people keep moving on as they should but it is so hard when a special place in my heart stopped beating the day you were killed. I thank God for blessing us with Kendall and little did I know she would be what kept me going through my pain and struggles. She also misses you so much and never got to have but 10 years to share with you in her life. We still feel so very cheated at times of what we feel we were robbed of. I still do not have all the answers and I will probably never get them and that is and always has been an open wound that will never heal or be set free. I have carried that burden of unanswered questions for the last twelve years and at times lay so heavy on my heart. I have to remember that God says let Him carry my burdens and that is when my heart gets lighter. I know God does not make mistakes and I have to trust Him that He knows best even when I at times think it was a mistake. You were just beginning your life and you were so young at just 20 years old. We have to keep moving on and keep making new memories with Kendall and enjoy the time we have with her. You would be so proud of her she became an RN and she is still going to school for more education to go higher in her field. Both You and Kendall chose what I call Hero jobs! I could not be any more Proud of you both and I feel that God has blessed me with the Greatest children a mother could ever ask for. I feel so blessed that He allowed both of you and trusted me as your mother to raise you. We don't get to choose how long we can keep you but for what ever time we have its an Honor to have been given the blessing to have you both. Kendall is still here and You are only one breath away from me waiting for me in my future. We will set a place at the table for you and I know you are here with us in spirit and our treasured memories will never die or be taken from us they are kept safe in my heart. Just missing you so much today yet so thankful for the 20 years we had together.
Sending my love on Angels Wings
I love you Mom

Tammy Persin
Mother

November 10, 2012

Brian,
We went to the funeral home last night to visit a family member of close friends and the cousin to one of your best friends Leslie. He was in the Air Force and she heard of his death at the age of 24 the same day you were killed twelve years ago. The sad thing is she will have two military deaths to remember now on the 9th of August her cousin and you. I wanted to go and show the family the respect, love, and support they deserved and at the same time afraid to go. Leslie and her family were so good to us and helped us so much in our time of pain when you passed. I thought I could handle it and when we walked in the door the first thing I saw was his military picture on the wall. My heart felt like it hit the floor and I knew from that moment I had walked as far as I could go and that was just inside the front door. I sat down in a chair and waited for Ken to come out and while I was sitting there oh the memories that flooded my mind of your passing and hurting for them. I had walked in those same shoes once before and knew the heart wrenching pain his family and love ones were going through. It was also so close to the time you had passed and that made it even harder to attend. I knew at that point I would never be able to attend a military funeral besides yours. A part of my heart died when you passed and left a hole with a bottomless pit of pain that never seems to stop. It is just not a natural thing to me for parents to have to bury their children even though it happens every day. I need answers to what really happen that night the truth instead of what people thought happen. My life and heart can never be set free of the chains that I have carried for the last twelve years wrapped around my heart of not knowing and never being able to have closure because there is no closure. I do try my best to move on but a part of me will always be left stuck in the pass when time stood still the day when I was told you were gone. Time and people still move on and some may even forget your name and that's why I'm so thankful for this site and support it every year. God blessed me with you for twenty years and even though I cannot understand I know that you accomplished what your calling was on this earth and He needed you for a higher calling. I trust God and I know He understands what I go through every day and that He never makes a mistake because He sees the future and all I can see is the past and now. One day I will see and hold you in my arms again and no one or anything will ever separate us again. You are so loved and missed and we send our love on prayers for angels to carry back to heaven. Well I said what was on my heart today and feeling a little down but knowing I will see you again gives me joy. The song by Westlife called ( I'll See You again) could not have been more true and as the song says never say goodbye. When I first heard the song on the internet I thought how slow and depressing it sounded but as it played the words hit home and caused me to smile with joy because one day I will see you face to face and look into your eyes and see your smile and feel that bear hug once again.
I love you
Mom

Tammy Persin

August 19, 2012

The years keep going past, but those that love you sometimes feel that they are in the Twilight Zone. By saying that I mean that there are days they expect you to come walking through the door with a big smile on your face and greeting them. I know that their lives changed forever when they lost you and that the only thing they do is take one day at a time. You will forever be in their thoughts and hearts. Continue to keep watch over all of your loved ones, protect them and guide them. You have not been forgotten.

Bob Gordon
Father of Fallen Chicago Officer: Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

August 9, 2012

Brian,
I was just watching the video that your father had made in your honor and memory called Private Gleason Memorial for all to see on the internet. I hope and pray that it will continue to help save the lives of many police officers who get behind the wheel at each shift. To know how important it is to make the right choices when you put that car in gear. One bad choice can change the lives of many people in just a few short seconds forever. If one life is saved it will be worth it and for others to see what a few seconds of a bad choice can cause. We love and miss you so very much and will one day hold you in our arms again.

I love you
Mom

Tammy Persin

August 9, 2012

Dear Brian,
Once again that tragic day has came back around that changed all of our lives forever. Such a senseless loss of life that did not have to happen. I know in my mothers heart I will never have all the reasons to why? I often wish for that one question in my mothers mind and heart that who ever has the key to would unlock the chain I carry everyday wrapped around my heart to be set free! In my mothers heart things have never sat at total peace for the unknown that I have always felt. It is so hard without you here to share in our lives and the might have been. I myself have never know of any other pain than is as bad as loosing a child at any age and at the age of 20 was still to soon. I never wake up that I don't see your face or close my eyes at the end of the day to say goodnight to your smiling face. I miss you so very much and would give anything to just hold you one more time if only for a few minutes. Your sister Kendall will be getting married next year and is trying to figure a way to honor you at her wedding. I thank all the people for their kind words on your page and your father for honoring your memory in hopes that it will save lives. I will try and remember all the precious memories that we have and not let the painful ones take over on the 9th. We will see each other again one day and never to be apart again. Until then know I carry you in my heart and hold you in my memories.

I love you
Mom

Tammy Persin

August 8, 2012

I'm so sorry that your gone bro its taken me years to finally accept that your gone, good bye my friend and HUA!

chris romine
209th MP CO

July 23, 2012

As we approach the 12th year where you were taken from us. I just wanted to say how much I still miss you and your smile. I now have the honor of teaching in the "Valor" program and through the teaching I hope I also honor your memory.

You are loved and missed,
Your Dad

Father-Retired
State of Florida

July 10, 2012

Brian,

I, like many others, never had the privelege of knowing you. Through reading these reflections from your mom and your dad, and getting to know your father as one of my instructors I truly wish I would have. It is very clear that you are missed incredibly and will always be treasured. Your parents are so proud of you!

Your dad has been our lead instructor for the past 3 weeks and on the final night of this block he took some time and shared you with our class. I feel I will be a better person, father and future law enforcement officer because of him sharing you with us.

Again, your folks are so proud of you. Thank you for your service to law enforcement and the United States.

To Mr. Gleason and Mrs. Persin...God Bless

A BRC 390 Recruit
Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy

June 18, 2012

Brian,
I read this this morning and thought of you and everyone else who has lost their loved one.

When someone dies you never quite get over it
You just slowly learn to go on without them but
Always keeping them tucked safely in your heart

This is so true and I carry you every minute of every day in my heart until I see you again one day.
I love and miss you so very much

Mom

Tammy Persin

June 7, 2012

Thinking of you and your service to our country on Memorial Day. Thank you.

Bob Gordon
Father of Chicago Officer: Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

May 28, 2012

Dear Brian,
I wanted to take the time and thank you for all you have done in your short time as a Police Officer to make this world a better place. You are loved and missed and we are very proud of you and we could not have asked for a better son. I thank you for your passion and the pride you held to do your job. A job well done son!

We Love You
Mom

Tammy Persin

May 15, 2012

Dear Brian,
Its Mothers Day once again and I miss and love you so much. I have been so blessed to have you as my son and so very proud of you. It seems like I say the same things over and over but without you here there are no new memories to make with you. I can only dream of the things that might have been and all that has been taken from us in just a few short minutes that have and always will be a life time of pain for us left here without you. I think of all the mothers out there and I hope that they realize what a special day it is and how blessed they are to share this day with their children. All of us mothers who have lost our children can only dream and wish we could hold you in our arms and can only re-live out past precious past memories that we hold on to in our hearts. We all say what we would give just to kiss your face and hear you laugh with a big smile on your face and just to hold your in our arms just one more time if only for a few moments. Instead of getting to spend time together we take flowers to your grave and visit you there with heavy hearts. One day we will meet again and until then just know how much your loved and missed! I have been very blessed with you and Kendall and I thank God for every day for the precious memories of the past with you and the ones I still get to make with Kendall. I love you!

sending my love on angels wings to you
Mom

Tammy Persin

May 12, 2012

As we approach the end of the school year, I just wanted to say how much I miss our summers together. During this time of the year I was so looking forward to picking you up and us spending time together.

You are loved and missed, Love your Dad!

Retired Captain
State of Florida

May 12, 2012