Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Dear Mark,

Lily spent the night last week (New Year's Day) and Dad and I took her out to Michelle's to go sledding. She was braver this year. She went all the way to the top of the hill each time to slide down. She also walked up each time instead of one of us pulling her up on the sled. She really like going down the snow tube with Alexis. When we finished sledding we went to an indoor putt-putt which was in the dark with the black lights and irredescent paint. The kids liked that too. The night before we went sledding Lily played here with Savanna. Tina brought her over to play. Lily is growing up so fast. I don't know what they will do with her in Kindergarten in the fall because she is so smart. She likes school and is a teacher's dream child. She always is willing to have an input.
I am getting ready to go to church. Happy New Year and tell Mike I said the same.
I love amd miss you.

Love Mom

January 6, 2008

I never had the honor of meeting Officer Sawyers but from reading all of the reflections, it's obvious what type of man he was. Unless you've been there, no one can understand what motivates a police officer every day. It's certainly not the money or the public's respect. But instead, maybe, just maybe, the knowledge that someone has been helped and a wrong has been righted. The next time someone sees an accident, building fire or other danger, look for those that are going to the danger while others are running to safety. We can't be thankful enough to have people like these among us.

January 3, 2008

Happy New Year Mark.

Reno said a toast in your honor at the FOP party last night. We raised our glasses to our friend that couldn't be with us and he very simply stated....

...."WE WILL NEVER FORGET"!!

And we never will. This is my promise.

Kathy

SHPD

January 1, 2008

Happy New Year Mark! I hope you watched as everyone rang in the New Year. To Yvonne and your family, we wish you a happy and health new year and Yvonne, congrats again, on the birth of the baby! We are so happy for you!

Den, Jen & Peyton Brozowski

January 1, 2008

To Mom & Lily:


Over Mountains
Over Trees
Over Oceans
Over Seas
I'll be there

In a whisper on the wind
On the smile of a new friend
Just think of me
And I'll be there

Don't be afraid, oh my love
I'll be watching you from above
And I'd give all the world tonight,
To be with you
Because I'm on your side,
And I still care
I may have died,
But I've gone nowhere
Just think of me,
And I'll be there

On the edge of a waking dream
Over Rivers
Over Streams
Through Wind and Rain
I'll be there

Across the wide and open sky
Thousands of miles I'd fly
To be with you
I'll be there

Don't be afraid, oh my love
I'll be watching you from above
And I'd give all the world tonight,
To be with you
Because I'm on your side,
And I still care
I may have died,
But I've gone nowhere
Just think of me,
And I'll be there

In the breath of a wind that sighs
Oh, there's no need to cry
Just think of me,
And I'll be there

December 29, 2007

I wanted to stop at your page to leave a reflection to say that you have not been forgotten and I know those that love you dearly will never let your memory be forgotten. Continue to keep watch over all of your loved ones, especially your parents for I know the daily pain and struggle they face as they awake and face each new sunrise without you in their lives. No parent should ever have to outlive their children. When one loses a wife, you are a widower, a wife losing a husband is called a widow, if you lose your parents you are an orphan. When you lose a child, it is so terrible we don't have a word to describe it. Wrap your wings around them and help them with their grief. Also, continue to keep watch over those still out on patrol guarding over the Thin Blue Line. You have not been forgotten.

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

December 26, 2007

Mark,

Merry Christmas. We love you!

Yvone & Lily
xoxoxo

December 26, 2007

Merry Christmas Sawyers. Merry Christmas Yvonne, Lily and Camden. Hubbys 76 band still tops our tree. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

SHPD wife

December 26, 2007

Dear Mark,

On this Christmas day and always... thinking of you.

My sister Mary called today to tell me of the SHPD officer that she saw as she was passing by your park today. He was just standing there, touching your picture, hat in hand. People may think we don't know when they silently honor you, but somehow we always do. Like today, my sister passing by the park at that very moment. The gestures of love and remembrance for you warms our heart more than they know. They make us really believe that "You will not be forgotten."

Love you,
Diane

***Thank you to all that still keep Mark in their thoughts, as your actions show that he is also in your hearts.

Mother-in-law

December 25, 2007

Mark,

Happy belated birthday to you. It sounds like this years celebration was very nice just like the previous years. I know Nathan sure enjoys being there with your family and friends.

I agree with your Mom, this time of the year is very hard to get through without you and Michael here with us. I thought it would get easier, but it hasn't. I too am very happy that Yvonne and Lily are happy with their new family. I'm glad Yvonne doesn't have to be so lonely without you. I know it had to be very hard for her to move on, but I know that you are happy that she has. I'm really glad she and the new baby are doing well!

Yvonne's Mom, Diane, wrote a really nice reflection on Micheael's website that made me cry. It is so nice to hear that someone who barely knew him had such fond memories of him. I know you, Yvonne and your family all loved him very much, but to hear that Lily includes him in her prayers makes me so happy. He loved your little girl and all of you too.

Just know that you and all of our family and friends in heaven are thought about everyday, are in our hearts & pryers and that will never change. I know that you and Michael are probably in the middle of a disc golf game or maybe playing a friendly game of fooseball right now, and that makes me smile! Rest in Peace.

I hope the Sawyer family, Yvonne, Matt, Lily, baby Camden and all of your friends have the happiest holiday season possible.

Love,
Sherrie

Sherrie Mosher
Good Friend

December 24, 2007

Merry Christmas Mark. We all miss you !!!

Friend
SHPD

December 24, 2007

Dear Mark,

It's Christmas again and I miss you so bad. I think about all the memories I have of you and Michael and Michelle as you were growing up. Of course a lot of your friends come with those memories. I was thinking about the different friends you took to Florida on our spring breaks. Jason, Rich, Harold, and I don't know who else. I have a lot of memories of you. They are all wonderful. I see you in Lily too. The way she sleeps,her inquisiveness(forever a question that demands an answer), her working everyone (to get her way) just like you use to do. She is getting to be big girl.
We are proud of her and know you are too. She talks about you a lot. She will say my Daddy this or my Daddy that. Sometimes she wants me to retell her a story that I told her about you before. She loves how your big fish jumped out of the tank and Dad had to pick it up and put it back. Yvonne and I revisited all the cars you owned (one for just a night). You always liked a nice car.
I want to wish you and Mike a Merry Christmas. I love you very much.

Love Mom

December 23, 2007

...Never Forgotten...

Mark, your memorial page and photograph are taped to the inside of my locker - and as I put my uniform on everday, I read it. Everyday Mark... I read it. You are NEVER forgotten, and I carry your spirit with me every single day. I know you are watching over your brothers and sisters in blue, and I know you are walking the beat in Heaven - smiling down on us. Keep us safe Mark.

Officer
Bay City Police

December 21, 2007

...Never Forgotten...

Mark, your memorial page and photograph are taped to the inside of my locker - and as I put my uniform on everday, I read it. Everyday Mark... I read it. You are NEVER forgotten, and I carry your spirit with me every single day. I know you are watching over your brothers and sisters in blue, and I know you are walking the beat in Heaven - smiling down on us. Keep us safe Mark.

Officer
Bay City Police

December 21, 2007

...Never Forgotten...

Mark, your memorial page and photograph are taped to the inside of my locker - and as I put my uniform on everday, I read it. Everyday Mark... I read it. You are NEVER forgotten, and I carry your spirit with me every single day. I know you are watching over your brothers and sisters in blue, and I know you are walking the beat in Heaven - smiling down on us. Keep us safe Mark.

Officer
Bay City Police

December 21, 2007

Deputy Sawyer Rest in peace my brother

Yvonne
I want to thank you for the words you provided to Joshua Norris EOW 7/5/07 who was to be my son in-law, they touched my daughter and has helped my family during a dark time. My daughter had a general idea of how large our police family was, but your reflection showed just how large the family of blue is. I was reviewing Josh's pages again and came across your reflect which made me want go to Mark's and thank you. Your mother in law and you talk about signs, which I have been telling my daughter that Josh will talk to her, she just has to listen. She feels that she will never love again, but I think God, Mark and Josh got together to direct me to this reflection, to help my daughter understand that as life moves on, you never forget those you love and that love will find you again once lost. But also those that you love, wants you to be happy, as with you and your husband. God Bless you and congratulations on the new baby.

Deputy John Latour
Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office

December 19, 2007

Dear Mark,

Dad signed his retirement papers yesterday. He is laid off but that is a good thing. He actually retires January 7th. Time is moving so fast, the holidays are almost here and it stinks that you are not here. You are in my heart and thoughts all the time. I love and miss you.

Love Mom

December 19, 2007

Dear Mark,

Lily is so excited to show off her new brother Camden. She shows how big he is with her hands. She has him about six inches long. I am sure she went to school today and announced that he is home and that mom is breast feeding him. She announces all the details about everything. It doesn't matter where or to who. She just has a knack for the details. She and Alexis spent the night. We made crafts and they put on a gymnastic show for all of us. Kyle has learned to play Rook. He is doing pretty good. We played a game during the Lions game. We will teach Lily and Alexis is a couple of years. I am so glad you sent me a sign and now Yvonne got one too. It means so much to us. Yvonne is such a good mother to Lily and now Camden. Her kids are the most important thing in her life. She seems to be finding happiness again. You two had a great marriage and we want her to be happy again. I know you would want that too. Her husband, Matt, is so good with Lily and that is what we want the most. Yvonne is so lucky to find true love again. So many people don't experience it at all! Yvonne is experiencing it a second time. How great is that!!! We wish her all the best.
My class is coming back in the room so I have to cut this short.
I love and miss you.


Love Mom

December 10, 2007

Mark,

Camden Steven Swanson was born on Wednesday December 5th at 2:13 a.m. He was 7 lbs. 5 oz, 21 inches. He and I are doing great. I got your two signs that night. It made me smile to see your first name twice on random things. It made me feel like you were watching out for all of us.

Lily is so overjoyed. She kisses him and wants to help do everything. We bought her a big sister shirt and she put it on in the hospital. Your mom bought her blue suckers that say "It's a boy" to give out at school to all her classmates. She did that on Friday. We also bought her a Webkinz puppy and told her it was from her brother for being such a great big sister. She loves it, and her and Matt were able to get online today to check out the website and play games.

We came home yesterday and today we spent the day adjusting to life with a newborn! Lily woke up this morning and called for me, so I took Camden up to her room with me. She smiled so big when she saw him. She 'read' him a couple of stories she had in her room. She also got out her Baby Einstein video because she knows they are for babies and wanted him to watch it.

Lily went with your mom tonight to watch Alexis' gymnastics recital. Then the two of them are staying over your parents' house. She was excited about seeing Alexis. I miss her though. Three nights in the hospital away from her was tough. My parents brought her up for several hours on Wednesday, and then I didn't see her until Friday afternoon. I am looking forward to spending so much time at home with her and Camden while I am off of work.

Thanks for watching over us during this happy and exciting time in our lives. We love you and miss you.

Yvonne
xoxoxo

December 8, 2007

Dear Mark,

I received the message you gave Kristina in a dream. It brings tears to my eyes but they are good tears. It just made me feel so happy to hear what was said in her dream. I know a lot of people don't believe in signs, etc but that is because they have never experienced it. Kristina had the dream on your birthday and she did not know it was your birthday. No one else knew how I felt about something you told her in the dream to tell me. It's so wonderful and makes me feel much better than I did for a couple of weeks. I love and miss you.

Love Mon

December 5, 2007

Yvonne,

A month ago I put together several memorials on DVD's, tributes for officers that lost their lives in the line of duty. One DVD had many Michigan officers, including Mark. I would like to send one to you. If you are interested in receiving one, please email Chris Cosgriff here at the ODMP and ask him for my email address. Best wishes to you.

Michigan (up north)

December 4, 2007

My heart goes out to the Sawyers family. He was a wonderful person and friend. He will never be forgotten an I am glad he was once a part of my life. Rest in peace.

An Old Friend

November 30, 2007

Dear Mark,

WE had a nice get-together in honor of your birthday last night. We sent balloons up with messages on them. We also left a cute little decorated tree and a lighted candle at the cemetery. Lily was so tired and it was so cold at the cemetery. Some of the group went to the party at the FOP after they left our house but I was tired and we didn't feel like partying.
I love and miss you.


Love Mom

November 30, 2007

Thinking of you today...Happy B-day, Mark. I know you were present with your family and friends tonight. We miss you.

November 29, 2007

Happy Birthday Mark!!!!
We miss you so much not a day goes by that i don't think about you. I know you see what I'm going threw again and I hope you will be with me tomorrow. Thanks
Lots of Love!!!!

November 29, 2007