Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Although we have never met, you are thought of every day. My prayers are for your wife, daughter, and your mother in law who, by her writings, seems to be more proud of you than anyone could imagine! Enjoy heaven to its fullest, rest in peace and may God bless you, your family, and brothers and sisters in blue always and forever!

Up North MI

January 10, 2005

Mark,

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the
world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me gives me
strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand
around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about

It's hangin' on when your heart
has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daugter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy
she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

I thank God everyday for blessing us with Lily, our sweet princess. We love you and miss you more than ever.

Yvonne

January 6, 2005

I would like to thank everyone who has sent a reflection to Mark or our family. We check the site often, sometimes daily, and it warms our hearts to see all the heartfelt thoughts that have been sent in.

The holidays were especially rough, and the memorial site gives us some comfort. God Bless all of you. Please continue to remember Mark, Yvonne and our beautiful Lily in your prayers. We all miss him so much.

To all our friends in law enforcement, stay safe out there. Your loved ones depend on it.

Mom #2

Diane Bawcum
Mother-in-law

January 5, 2005

I just can't seem to shake this. I stare at your picture and wonder "why?" over and over again. I can't get it out of my head that you were so tragically and senselessly taken from so many people. I check your reflections often - and it still hits me hard just like the first time I heard about your story. Sometimes one certain story of a fallen officer sticks with someone - sometimes every story sticks with someone. Mark, your story has stuck with me ... and I keep you in my thoughts everytime I put that uniform on and hit the streets. Watch over us Officer Sawyers - keep us safe - and rest now.

P.O.
Bay City Police Department

January 5, 2005

Mark,
2004 has come to an end. It has been filled with such sorrow. Please continue to watch over us for years to come, as we will continue to pray for you and your family.

You are so deeply missed...

December 31, 2004

Mark,
This is the first year that Yvonne will have to try and make it through this holiday alone. Watch over her and give her peace. May your love be felt by your wife and daughter forever.
Merry Christmas,
Katy Sherwood
wife of Kevin Sherwood
EOW October 9, 2003

December 25, 2004

Mark,

Just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. I think about you and your family all the time. Somedays are better than others but we still miss you very much. Thank-you for everything.

Dispatcher Adam Vanderleun
Sterling Heights Police

December 25, 2004

Merry Christmas From Heaven

I still hear the songs
I still see the lights
I still feel your love
on cold wintery nights

I still share your hopes
and all of your cares
I'll even remind you
to please say your prayers

I just want to tell you
you still make me proud
You stand head and shoulders
above all the crowd

Keep trying each moment
to stay in His grace
I came here before you
to help set your place

You don't have to be
perfect all the time
He forgives you the slip
If you continue to climb

To my family and friends
please be thankful today
I'm still close beside you
In a new special way

I love you all dearly
now don't shed a tear
Cause I'm spending my
Christmas with Jesus this year

December 25, 2004

To Yvonne and Lily
May the Lord give you the strength to get through this Holiday and know that Mark is there with you both every minute of every day. I know he is enjoying the smile on Lily's face everytime she opens a gift. Mark was so proud to be a daddy. She is a very blessed girl. Mark is always in my heart and you and Lily are always in my prayers.

Mark, Merry Christmas!!!!!
You are so deeply missed. I miss your smiling face around the station. You have a much more important job now, I know you are watching over all of us and making sure everyone is safe. C30 you are always with me. GOD BLESS you and everyone on this holy night.

Friend
SHPD

December 25, 2004

Mark,

I am certain that you are watching over our new officers. I am also certain that you know we see a part of YOU in each and every one of them.

We welcome them with the same open arms, but...
...we watch them just a little more closely,
...and we hold them just a little bit tighter.

...And we remind them of YOU every day!!

We miss you Charlie 30...every second, every minute, every hour of every day.

Sent With Love From,

Your SHPD FAMILY

December 19, 2004

Mark,
I hope you are looking down on us and see all the Christmas lights. They are beautiful. I will continue to pray for you

Fellow LEO

December 18, 2004

Mark,
I never met you but you have touched my family greatly. When you were taken from us my husband and I were expecting.My husband talked very highly of you, you have given him a totally new drive to protect and serve. You have made me see how important officers really are, I have a new prespective.I think about you and your family all the time,and wonder how they are doing. You are a hero and a very special person. You were taken from us with out any thought, I know that you are watching please keep the police officers safe and bring them home to their familys each night. You are a hero in my eyes! Thank you for making our streets safe.
To the family I am very sorry for your loss. GOD BLESS

December 18, 2004

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM HEAVEN

I still hear the songs
I still see the lights
I still feel your love
on cold wintry nights

I still share your hopes
and all of your cares
I"ll even remind you
to please say your prayers

I just want to tell you
you still make me proud
You stand head and shoulders
above all the crowd

Keep trying each moment
to stay in his grace
I came here before you
to help set your place

You don"t have to be
perfect all of the time
He forgives you the slip
If you continue the climb

To my family and friends
please be thankful today
I"m still close beside you
in a new special way

I love you all dearly
now don"t shed a tear
cause I"m spending my
Christmas with Jesus this year

Poem by John Wm. Mooney Jr.

Sylvia Daniels
Allegan, Michigan

December 16, 2004

As I come out of the Police Academy and into the world of violence that awaits me, I will never forget you Officer Sawyers. Though I have never met you, I will always keep you in my memory and I will serve my watch i your honor. Your work here is done and now please keep watch over us as we protect the ones that still remain.

Timothy Woodward
Schoolcraft Police Academy

December 11, 2004

Winter's here, the days are short
The nights so very long

It's now been six lonely months
Since you're so tragically gone

Our hearts continue to break apart
While our tears are a steady flow

And this we never will understand
Is why Mark, did you have to go?

Forever Missing You,
Your Loving Family

December 5, 2004

Thinking of you...
Happy Birthday Mark.

Kathy
SHPD

November 29, 2004

Dear Mark,
Today on your birthday we are missing you more than ever, if that is even possible. Yesterday, amongst friends, family and co-workers, we celebrated you, we honored you.

Thank you for being there for Yvonne on her birthday, if only in her dreams. I know you will do the same for Lily for the special times in her life.

All our love,
Mom #2

Diane Bawcum
Mother-in-law

November 29, 2004

Mark,

My first birthday without you...and you still didn't forget. You came to my dream like you were in life; you hugged me and held me, and later went to play a game with your friends! Did you hear Lily say 'birthday'? I bet you taught her that one. She is intelligent, affectionate, silly, and boy does she know what she wants. She has so many of your qualities. Every day I thank God that I have her to love. It was very difficult to sit through your favorite dinner yesterday without you. Alexis and Kyle broke the wishbone after we ate. Alexis won, but didn't want to make a wish. She told Michelle she could have it. I know we all were wishing the same thing on that little bone. We love you and miss you tremendously.

Yvonne

November 27, 2004

Every Thanksgiving I give thanks for my family, friends, health, and happiness.

Today I give special thanks because I was lucky enough to have known you, and I have happy memories to get me through the tough times ahead.

This holiday season will be like no other. You are so deeply missed by all who know and love you.

Happy Thanksgiving Mark.
Thank you for being my friend.

Friend
SHPD

November 25, 2004

Mark,

Please know that all who knew you, even a little, miss you tremendously. You left such an impression upon everyone you met - it is a testimony to the amazing person that you were. Know that we will always watch over your family. Lily will never doubt who her father was or how much you love her. You are a hero to all who knew you, and even to those who did not have the chance to meet you. You were taken from us much too soon, but I am comforted to know that you are with our Lord and that you watch over us and protect us without fail.
We will never forget you.

Friend

November 23, 2004

Mark,

I MISS YOU BRO. Not a day goes by that I don't wish you were here. I am keeping my promise to you (I always will), Yvonne is taking each day as it comes and is doing well considering the circumstances. Lily is just beautiful, she is just a ball of fun. Caesar is watching over Yvonne and Lily for you, don't worry he is not getting fat we are keeping an eye on his weight. He has filled out really well, still whines when you stop petting him. Rich and Eddy are taking care of your fish and they are doing just fine. Jay stops in often and makes sure that all is OK and that they don't need anything.

We all promise to always honor your memory and to do you proud.

Harold

Harold

November 21, 2004

The members of the FBI Agents Association's Detroit Chapter salute your service and that of your colleagues. May God be with your family. Rest In Peace. Romans 13:4 NIV

Special Agent Darin L. Paul
FBI Detroit

November 14, 2004

Mark,

There are so many ways that you have blessed my life and made it wonderful. Lily is our beautiful princess, my life, my everything. You have given me another set of loving parents that I will forever cherish. I have a wonderful friend in your sister. She has a special place in my heart, as she did in yours. We are surrounded by your best friends, who continue to be there for Lily and me. Jason, Harold, Eddy, Rich, and Mike continue to make sure we are O.K. Caesar, our first baby, stands watch for you. We all love you and miss you more than words can say. You will forever hold my heart in your hands. Until the day we are together again...

Yvonne

November 11, 2004

MARK,

WE ALL MISS YOU SO MUCH. THERE ISN'T A DAY THAT PASSES WE DON'T THINK OF YOU. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU AGAIN BROTHER! EVEN MORE, I CAN'T WAIT TO COMPETE WITH YOU AGAIN!!! MISS YOU BRO!!!

MOSHER
FRIEND

November 10, 2004

Mark,

It has been a little over five months since I met you and your wife Yvonne and the rest of your family in the hospital. I can still see the pain in their faces when yo died, and I still think about all of you.

On Saturday I performed a wedding for a rookie cop from GPW. One of the lessons that I passed on to the couple during our counseling session was the importance of relationship, never leaving each other angry or upset. Making every effort to let one another know that they are loved more deeply with each passing day.

That lesson I truly learned from you and Yvonne at the hospital. The deep devotion and love that she has for you was and still is overwhelming.

I believe that God has a purpose for all fallen heros Mark, for each of the fallen is assigned to a living cop as an angel of mercy and protection, helping them to make the right decisions in the spur of a moment.

Mark as you continue on His Watch, look over your brothers and sisters in uniform, and guide them with your loving hand. Yvonne, Lilly, Mr. & Mrs. Sawyers, my prayers go out continually for all of you, may each day become a little brighter and easier.

God Bless all of you and may He continue to protect you all.

Rev. Kenneth Coppock
International Fellowship of Chaplains

November 9, 2004