Pittsburg Police Department, California
End of Watch Tuesday, April 15, 2003
Reflections for Inspector Raymond Joseph Giacomelli
Here, I stand again, as the casket of a fallen brother draped with the American flag makes its way past the tear filled eye's of the officer(s) & families left to deal with the pain of
life without a father, husband, friend, & brother.
I watch as a sea of car's, lights rotating/flashing in a show of unity for a friend who paid the ultimate sacrifice. I watch as civilians stand to the side of the road, praying & paying
respect as the procession passes.
I listen as officer(s) fire their weapons in a 21 gun salute, and watch as the family, and other officers jump, as this reminds them of the last sound heard by our fallen brother.
At last, as tears stream down the faces of the mourners at the grave, we watch as the officer is laid to rest and say our final farewells to him our brother.
I reflect, and remember:
All gave some
And some gave all
Some stood through
For the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties
And recall
Some gave all. (unknown writer)
To all my brothers/sisters, may god be with you each and every day, and remember, we are a part of the largest family in the world, and when one hurts we all hurt.
To Inspector Ray Giacomelli, though I knew you not, you will never be forgotten, because you were also my brother.
Deputy Joe Wilder
Kenton County, KY
REST IN PEACE FALLEN OFFICER YOUR TIME HERE IS THROUGH GO WALK THE STREETS OF HEAVEN WITH THE GOOD LORD
IF I KNEW
If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.
If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.
If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.
If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.
For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.
There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"
But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.
So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,
That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear
Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.
Anonymous
ASTON, PENNSYLVANIA
TONYA STEPHENSON
PRIVATE CITIZEN
God Speed, Brother.
P.O.K. Murphy
Union PD, NJ
May God bless you brother Ray. Your service here is over. You will never be forgotten. We send our hearts to the friends and family member of Inspector Giacomelli. He shared his wisdom and love with us while he was here, now we must charish those moments he shared.
Rest in peace Brother Ray.
Carl Wortham
Son of Glenn "Truman" Wortham EOF 7/15/73
Assistant Chief Carl Wortham
Sand Springs Police Dept. Okla
Saint Michael, heaven's glorious commissioner of police,who once so neatly and successfully cleared God's premisesof all its undesirables, look with kindly and professionaleyes on your earthly force.
Give us cool heads, stout hearts, and uncanny flair for investigation and wise judgment.
Make us the terror of burglars, the friend of children and law-abiding citizens, kind to strangers, polite to bores, strict with law-breakers and impervious to temptations.
You know, Saint Michael, from your own experiences with the devil, that the police officer's lot on earth is not always a happy one; but your sense of duty that so pleased God, your hard knocks that so surprised the devil, and your angelic self-control give us inspiration.
And when we lay down our night sticks, enroll us in your heavenly force, where we will be as proud to guard the throne of God as we have been to guard the city of all the people. Amen.
Det Sgt C. L. Israel
East Point Police Department, Ga
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