Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. James was a terrific person with his whole life ahead of him. He had a family(wife and three children with another on the way). He was an extremely dedicated husband, father, and Agent. He was always the first to make you feel welcomed and had a great number of friends. He loved law enforcement and the Border Patrol Agency and felt that he could help make a difference. He will be greatly missed!!!

Parents of James Epling

January 23, 2004

God Bless You And Thank You, Brother!

Anonymous

January 17, 2004

May you rest in peace brother. You will not be forgotten.

BPA Ramirez
U.s. Border Patrol Campo

January 10, 2004

Rest in peace my Brother

My Deepest sympathy to your wife and children....

May the Lord watch over your family

B. Torres
U.S.B.P. EPT/LAS

January 8, 2004

My deepest sympathy for the family members you left behind here on this earth. Thank you for doing what many would not. I will see you someday on the other side.

A fellow agent.

J.L. Fuentes SBPA
Las Cruces, NM

SBPA Jose L. Fuentes
U. S. Border Patrol - Dept Of Homeland Security

January 8, 2004

Rest in peace brother in blue.
The watch is ours now.

God bless your family and your department.
Thanks for your dedication and service.

Trooper
Pennsylvania State Police

January 7, 2004

Day is done,
gone the sun.
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.

Godspeed to you and your family

LT. JAMES A. WILLIAMS
N.Y.P.D.

January 4, 2004

We are truly saddened at James' loss.
--------------------------------------
We all recall you gave your best.
You did your job, now you can rest.
Your comrades now can cover your post
as you take your place with the Heavenly Host.

God Bless Our Fallen Brothers & Sisters.
---------------------------------------
Our prayers will be with you, your family, and co-workers!

Ptlm. P.K. Harding
Binghamton (NY) P.D.

January 3, 2004

most people would tell you that law enforcement is a dangerous job. i never listened. I was always afriad when there was a domestic call or when i heard dispatch say use caution with someone. My husband was a little man but his size never mattered to him. He wanted to be a policeman, he wanted to make the small town we lived in a safe place for everyone. i never thought that directing traffic would be the worst thing that he could do. I just want to say to all the officers that read this "To be careful out there and watch out for other drivers and be careful so you can go home to your family" GOD BLESS

Wife of Officer Toby Dirickson
EOW 11-2-03

January 2, 2004

As a Police Officer, you see many things in life that are just wrong. To see a fellow officer loose their life is one of the saddest. "There is no justice in this world, Just Us." Being a Police Officer is a selfless profession and seldom do you receive the proper thanks. The only ones you really confide in, is family and fellow officers, because only they could understand where you are coming from and dealing with. You learn to cope or try to forget things one should not have to endure. Loosing a good man, friend, loved one has got to be the toughest. Thoughts and prayers are with the family.

Ptlm Robert Grinder
DOD Police

January 1, 2004

My deepest condolences go out to the family, friends, and co-workers BPA Epling left behind. BPA Epling gave the ultimate sacrifice protecting the border of this great country. To BPA Epling and all the men and women of the US Border Patrol. Thank You!

Trooper
South Dakota Highway Patrol

December 30, 2003

THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING OR COUNTRY!

MAY YOU REST IN PEACE.

DAN CANZANO CANINE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
DEPT. OF HOMELAND SECURITY-CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION

December 30, 2003

Rest in peace brother, We will pray for you and your family.

SGT (RET)
NJ DOC SOG K9 UNIT

December 30, 2003

My heart goes out to your wife, 3 kids, and your unborn child. You gave your life making the country a safer place for your children and the countries children to grow up in. Our thoughts are with you at this sad time. Rest peacefully now.

December 29, 2003

You will always be a great friend and fellow NCO. We went to the academy together and we went thru alot in the Army. I will always remember those days at NAS, Jax., the fun times we had at Ft. McCoy, WI. and FLETC. You were always the jokester and you made the best of everything you did. You and your family will always be in my thoughts and prayers. Rest peacefully brother. I'll see you on the (FLIP)side.

Alvin Dagdayan
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Orlando, Fl.

December 29, 2003

My sincere condolence to the family, friends and members of the U.S. Border Patrol. You will be remembered Brother.

Sr. Trooper Keith Miller (Ret)
Oregon State Police

December 26, 2003

The Lord said to me:
"Very few there are who love me in truth.
For to love me in this way is to know that everything that is not pleasing to me is a deception. But if you love me in truth I will not hide anything from you." May God bless your soul my dear brother, may God bring light into the darkness of the Grave for you shall see the Angels in waiting, and upon there wings you shall be forever safe ,before the Kingdom of God. Rest In Peace.

Det. Mike Kilpatrick
SPCC Kings Cty, New York

December 25, 2003

You are a hero for the way you lived and gave your life!! May God look after you and your family.

Tucson, Az Police Dept

December 25, 2003

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Agent James Epling. Thank you for helping keep our borders safe.
God bless you sir.

Lt Thomas Drury
Clare City Police Department Clare, Mi

December 25, 2003

Please remember the fallen officers we have lost. Remember the men and women who died trying to make this world a safer and better place for us all to live in. Thank you Agent Epling for a job well done. Please continue to watch over us and protect us as only you can. You will forever be at our side and in our hearts.

For those of you who still have loved ones with us please take the time to tell them how much you appreciate and care about them.

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

December 25, 2003

God Speed, Brother.

P.O. K.Murphy
Union PD, NJ

December 24, 2003

My fiance, Dennis McElderry, was the first law enforcement casualty of 2003. Dennis died doing a job he loved, just as I'm sure James did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and James be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Agent Epling's family, friends, and co-workers must be feeling. My heart goes out to you all, especially to his wife. No one can truly understand the pain of our loss until they've walked in our shoes. I wish I could give you a few words of wisdom to help you through this tough time, but there isn't anything I can really say or do to make the situation better. Just know that my thoughts are with you.

Please accept my condolences on behalf of the McElderry family and remember that James is part of huge law enforcement family. If you ever need anything any number of them will be there for you (as I've quickly found out!) From reading the many reflections posted here, I am certain James was well respected and well loved.

Thank you for a job well done and for helping to make this world a safer place for us all. Please say "hello" to my fiance Dennis for me.

Peace, Love, Luck, and Happiness!

Jocelyne Brar (Drakesville, IA)
Fiancee of Deputy Dennis McElderry - EOW (01/03/03)

December 23, 2003

It saddens me to hear of another young officer lost in the line of duty. My husband was 24 years old when he was killed just three months ago.
To Mrs. Epling - My heart aches for you. Keep your family, friends and police family close by. Let them help you through.
It's impossible to think that you could ever go on, but eventually you will feel like you can breathe again. It has been three months since my husband died in the line of duty. Not a second goes by that I don't think of him and miss him. Be strong for yourself and for your children.
God Bless.

Jennifer Waters
Surviving spouse of Mike Waters EOW 9-11-03

December 23, 2003

Agent James Epling, you made the ultimate sacrifice and gave your life trying to protect each of us. You will not be forgotten. Mrs. James Epling, you are among a loving and caring law enforcement family. You are in my thoughts and prayers. GOD BLESS.

DFC Vernon Brown
Orange County Sheriff's Office, Fl.

December 23, 2003

To the family and friends of Agent Epling, know that that the law enforcment community is here for you and feels your sorrow. It is a tragic loss to lose such a couragous and brave individual such as Agent Epling. May he rest in Peace.

Customs Inspector
Customs and Border Protection - Nogales AZ

December 23, 2003