New York City Police Department, New York
End of Watch Tuesday, September 11, 2001
Reflections for Police Officer Mark Joseph Ellis
Your death will be avenged and your heroism, courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten!
My Prayers are with all the friends and family of all the officers who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
I lost my brother tragically, Det. David Taylor, Greensboro PD, On August 7, 2001. I was in NY for my fiancee's Mother's funeral the first of Sept. I was stranded there for 3 weeks due to this atrocity. As I watched the events on TV, I cried for all those who lost their lives. But was especially emotional about the Police Officers and the Firefighters and their families, as I had just recently suffered a tragic loss myself. As I walked through the streets in the days following the attack, I cried with pride as I saw the officers on duty on all the corners in the city. I knew how hard it was for them, knowing they had lost their friends. On the Sat. following the attack I was at St. Patrick's for mass. The last 2 people to go up and take communion were 2 NYPD officers, again I cried. I hope all of you are getting the support that my family and I got when we needed it, from the Deparment. I know the comforting words and even the funny stories the officers tell us about my brother helps. I know that our loved ones who are gone from here, had a higher calling and are happy and at peace in Heaven. Hopefully we can all feel that same peace one day! God bless All of you! And God bless America!
Tracy Taylor
Thomasville, NC
Sister of Greensboro Det.David L Taylor
EOW 8/7/01
Tracy Taylor
"Last Inspection"
The policeman stood and faced his God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining.
Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, policeman.
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
The Policeman squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't,
Because those of us who carry badges
can't always be a Saint.
I've had to work most Sundays,
and at times my talk was rough,
and sometimes I've been violent,
Because the streets are awfully tough.
But I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
when the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
except to calm their fear.
If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
but if you don't...I'll understand
There was silence all around the throne
Where the Saints had often trod
As the policeman waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, policeman,
You've borne your burdens well
Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Author unknown
anonymous
As I watched the towers come down on September 11th from my home, I knew that many of my brother New York City Police officers had lost their lives. I knew many of them were in the buildings. I knew this because I knew something that the public found out of the 11th, and that is the Men and Woman of the NYPD are heroes, nothing less. Everyday they put their lives on the line to protect the people of New York City.
No member of the NYPD could sit back while people needed help, so these brave 23 NYPD officers along with their 47 brother officers from the PAPD, FBI, Court Administration, Secret Service teamed up with the brave men of the FDNY and in saving over 25,000 of their fellow New Yorkers gave their own lives.
These men and Women are truly heroes and not a day goes by now when I don’t think of them as I patrol the streets of New York City.
These men and women make me proud to be a Police Officer.
Their actions exemplify everything that is good about being a Police Officer.
God Bless them their families and god bless the NYPD.
A Brother NYPD Officer
Blessed are the peacemakers,For they shall be called sons of God." Matthew 5:9
Anonymous
May God Bless you and all your brothers and sisters in blue who died on 9/11/01
Terry Miyares
widow
Officer Emilio Miyares
Hialeah Police Dept, Fl
1959-1986
Terry Miyares, officer's widow
Hialeah Police Dept.
God I don't know what to say. I intend to post this message for each and everyone of you heroes so Officer, Detective, Agent, Whatever,... I thank you. You swore to serve and to protect. Well your days of protecting us are over. But you will forever be in service. Your eternal service... the inspiration you and your fellow bothers and sisters have re-enforced in my heart, will live so long as I do. Though I will not always carry your name in the front of my mind, not in my duties as a soldier or as the police officer I plan to become when I get home, I will still always carry with me the knowledge of your sacrifice... of your heroism, of your selflessness... I will carry a samll piece of you everywhere I go. Be it with an M-16 in my hands in a strange land, or a badge on my chest in my own back yard... long after the flags come down and the nation carries on... until the day I die... you will continue to serve... as my inspiration. God bless you. God bless your family. God bless your agency. God bless FDNY. God bless all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, coast guardsmen, and marines. God bless New York City. GOD BLESS AMERICA. Thank you my brothers and sisters. I love you.
R. Butler
As the planes crashed into the WTC and the Pentagon, I was benchmark testing in second period. They called off the tests and explained the events (very vaguely, but I had the idea). At that moment I was scared but I knew that, for now, my life was safe.
At that moment YOU were preparing to enter those burning buildings. You didn't know if you could save any lives; you didn't know if you would come out alive. As terrified people rushed down the smoking staircases, you ran up them. I know they were wondering whether you'd get back out, and how you summoned the bravery to fight against it.
I suppose you never made it back out. And I want to say thank you for going in there. You're not around to tell us how many lives you may have saved or how many people you may have helped. Who knows? You didn't live to see the aftermath of the attack, and you were willing to sacrifice that. I know the devastation must be IMMENSE, and you certainly went down a hero. Thank you for entering while not knowing if there would be an exit. God bless you and God bless America.
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