Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I can't believe it's been three years. Duke, you are truly missed. You will NEVER be forgotten. Jen, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Diane Sollers
Former Co-worker at Bay Bridge

July 20, 2007

Today marks the third year anniversary of your death. I will pray for continued strength for your family. You are a true hero.

I know that your family is very proud of you. Rest in peace.

Police Officer Garcia
Los Angeles Police Department

July 20, 2007

Hello Duke, Just wanted you to know that you are not forgotten on this date! Thank you once again for giving me a dear friend that I keep in my prayers and think of often. My prayers and thoughts are with our family today. Jennifer you know I am thinking of you and praying for you always. Love and miss you Jenn. Peace Be With You All!

lorrie winder
wife of ofc. Brian Winder EOW 7-3-04

July 19, 2007

Happy Belated Birthday!!

S.Grace

July 18, 2007

Dear Family, Friends and Co-Workers of Officer Aaron,

Family is more than just the same last name. It includes sharing values, memories and dreams. The bond and ties that you shared keep Duke's memory alive and may those memories carry you through the renewal time of this tragedy. He is not gone--just gone ahead. Be comforted in knowing we remember your loss and care.

Sandra Crouch
Surviving Spouse of Officer Thomas Crouch
E.O.W. 10-31-91

Maryland Transportation Authority Police

July 16, 2007

Hey Duke! Sorry this is a little late, but just wanted you to know that I was thinking of you on your birthday. I wonder ALL of the time what would have been had that day never happened. I miss talking to you. It seemed like you always knew what to say in bad situations (you and Jen BOTH know I've had plenty of those). But you were right...it's never that bad and one day I would be able to look back and realize that life goes goes on. I wish I could tell you the same right now...that life goes on. Your life will always go on for me...you will always be remembered for the good you represented and friend that you were. Take care buddy.

Officer R. DeVincentz
MdTA Police

July 7, 2007

Dear Sonny,

Happy Birthday! Today you would have turned 32. I am not sure why but it has been almost 3 years now that I have seen your crazy little smile and the days are getting harder rather than easier. I can only imagine how gray your hair would be, what car you may be driving, or what crazy adventure you are on now. All I can say is that I miss you so very much. There are so many things I want to share with you. Can you believe Brittney will be 16 this year and possible driving. Hannah is almost 13 and turning in to a beautiful little lady. The funny thing is how much Brittney looks like you. We are redoing our kitchen and something is wrong with the microwave, the girls always joke that when it turns on by itself that Uncle Duke is playing tricks on us. Wether it is true or not I like to beleive them sometimes. It helps to keep a smile on. Little brother I miss you so much but I know each and every day you are watching over us with love.

Love your Sister

July 5, 2007

Happy birthday Snookums! I can't believe today would have been your 32nd birthday. You had just turned 19 when we started dated. Darn we're getting old babe :-D. I love and miss you!

Love,
Jenn

Jennifer Aaron
Duke's Wife

July 5, 2007

Happy 32nd birthday pal we sure do miss you.

Justin

July 4, 2007

We know a lot of people that knew Duke personally. He touched a lot of lives. I recall some friends of mine from the courthouse crying when he passed. I knew he had to be an amazing person. He lived so close to us too so we stopped and prayed as his funeral was held close by our home.
I did not know Duke myself. My husband was friends with Scott Wheeler, the Howard County officer just killed this past week. I came across this site to leave that family a reflection when I found Dukes page. I must say reading the reflections I can see he was a very lucky man to have such a wonderful wife. I had heard that and now I see it for myself. Its great to see you can laugh about the little things now that spark a memory. I know Duke is looking down and so proud of you. ((((Hugs)))) ~Jilly~

Jill Durbin

June 24, 2007

Hey baby,

I had to laugh my butt off after I got gas tonight at the 7-Eleven. I stopped at the stop sign you got busted at because you weren't wearing your seatbelt during the "Chief's Challenge" and I bursted out laughing. You thought it was so funny that the two cops were just hanging out on the corner by that sign looking for seatbelt violations. I chuckle every time I go through the Safeway parking lot as well. That cop was really thinking hard about giving you a ticket that night :-).

Reno 911 is on. We used to watch that pretty much all the time. I remember you comparing them to some of the people in your department LOL. Sleep tight my love!

Love,
Jenn

Jennifer Aaron
Duke's Wife

June 20, 2007

Hi Jennifer, I just wanted you to know that I am always thinking of you even if we don't talk for a while. I hope all is going well in your neck of the woods. I think of Duke and you more often at this time of year and pray for peace and strength to get you through. Take care of yourself and be safe until we speak again. Love Ya, Lorrie

lorrie winder
wife of ofc. Brian Winder EOW 7-3-04

June 9, 2007

Jenn, we miss your reflections of Duke, we realize your in a different place in your grieving and you do not have to come here to remember Duke, but do know we miss your snookum reflections so much! God bless you and may god hold your hand until you can hold Dukes again.

Friends

June 6, 2007

I have been where you fear to go...
I have seen what you fear to see...
I have done what you fear to do...
All these things I've done for you.

I am the one you lean upon...
The one you cast your scorn upon...
The one you bring your troubles to...
All these people I've been for you.

The one you ask to stand apart...
The one you feel should have no heart...
The one you call the man in blue...
But I am human just like you.

And through the years I've come to see...
That I'm not what you ask of me...
So take this badge and take this gun...
Will you take it? Will anyone?

And when you watch a person die...
And hear a battered baby cry...
Then so you think that you can be
All those things you ask of me...?

May 22, 2007

Mrs. Aaron - I do not know you but I came across this website and have been touched by your reflections for your husband. I am truly, truly sorry for your loss. Even almost 3 years later I can't imagine the sorrow. I just wanted you to know that you are not alone. His heroic life and sacrificial death will stay in my heart.

Officer Aaron - rest easy and watch over the thin blue line. You are not forgotten.

Wife of a Maryland officer

May 5, 2007

Hi, Mrs.Aaron,
Your reflections are always full of happy memories and the love you had for your husband. They make me realize that what I have in my life and the love I have for my boyfriend could'nt be any better. I hope that you are happy and that you know that one day you will see your husband again. I wish you all the best!!

Kimberly, girlfriend of Baltimore City Police Officer Steve Cabral

Kimberly

May 3, 2007

Mrs. Aaron, your reflections are always so beautiful and full of love! Your heart seems to be mending and your memories are now whats first in your thoughts! I hope you
can find true happiness again and give yourself that opportunity to love again! No one can take away the love you and Duke shared, no one! God bless you!

Wife of a Florida Officer
Indian Harbor Beach, Florida

May 2, 2007

Hi Snookums! I decided today to spend some time visiting some of the other officers sites I haven't visited in quite a while since I don't come here much and I am now stopping by to visit yours. Spring has finally arrived it seems. I cut the grass for the first time over the weekend. Spending all that time outside reminded me of so many memories of us landscaping the yard. Sharon and I were talking about the projects we want to get done this year to both houses and the yards. Little Debi has talked about you quite a bit in the last several months. Out of the blue (and usually while driving), she will ask me about her Uncle Duke. Several weeks back while enroute to her dance class, she was rambling on real quick and mentioned Uncle Duke and can-can (what she calls rainbow lollipops) in the same sentence. I had thought she said your name and confirmed it with her just to make sure I heard her correctly. I have no clue what you and rainbow lollipops have in common (nor did she even have any lollipops with her at that time), but it made sense to her. Then she went on to tell me that you were dead without me saying a word and then ask me how you died. I have talked about you to her in the past, but I was tongue tied and tried to explain it in a way that an almost four year old would understand. I told her the bad man took you away from us and of course she wanted a more in-depth answer so I said he hit you with his car. Then I started tearing up. She said, "why you crying". I told her how I loved and missed you and with that she said, "don't worry Ju-Ju, I take care of you". That just did me in and I was really trying hard to pay attention to the road. I told her how much you loved her too and she laughed and asked "why" and then asked me to tell her a funny story about you. Later that evening when Mary got home from work, Debi looks at her and tells her that Uncle Duke was dead and then asks me to tell her another funny story about you. Mary and I told her a story together. The kid is so curious that's for sure. Debi was only thirteen months old when you died and yet she recognizes you in pictures of you and her together. Pictures that she does not see often that I have of you and her. My parents, brother and Mary said she mentions you once in awhile to them as well when least expected. I had to laugh at my dad the other day when she asked him about you (again not provoked) and he had to explain to her that you lived in Heaven, but you were still with us. What a challenge that seemed to have been LOL. As she gets older, it will be easier for her to comprehend and easier for all of us to explain...hopefully!

Well my love I guess I should get off of here. I love you more than anything in the world.

Love,
Jenn

Jennifer Aaron
Duke's Wife

April 25, 2007

HI JENN,
MY NAME IS KIMBERLY AND MY BOYFRIEND OFC.STEVE CABRAL,WHO NOW WORKS FOR THE BALTIMORE CITY POLICE DEPT. KNEW DUKE,HE TALKS ABOUT HIM OFTEN AND TELLS ME HOW GOOD OF A PERSON DUKE WAS!!! I WAS READING SOME OF THE REFLECTIONS YOU HAVE LEFT FOR YOUR HUSBAND AND I CAN CERTINTLY TELL THAT YOU LOVE YOUR HUSBAND VERY VERY MUCH AND HOW CLOSE YOU BOTH WERE. IT MAKES ME REALIZE THAT EVEN THOUGH I WORRY ABOUT MY BOYFRIEND WHEN HE'S AT WORK AND IT STRESSES ME OUT SOMETIMES, I NEED TO APPRECIATE THE TIME WE DO SPEND TOGETHER AND CHERISH EVERY SECOND OF IT AND APPRECITE ALL THAT HE DOES. YOU SOUND LIKE SUCH A WONDERFUL CARING PERSON, I DID NOT KNOW YOUR HUSBAND JENN BUT FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD HE SEEMED LIKE A WONDERFUL CARING PERSON ALSO!! MAY HE REST IN PEACE AND YOU WILL SEE HIM AGAIN ONE DAY, TAKE CARE JENN AND GOD BLESS YOU!!

April 14, 2007

Happy Easter my Snookums! Remember when my mom would buy my little step-cousins those plastic kites and put them in their Easter baskets and we would all go up to the school and fly them. Speaking of kites, I still have our good kite we bought on vacation in Ocean City before we were ever married. I smile thinking about when we took it up to Waterford Park and you were worried it was going to get tangled in the power lines. Eat all the white chocolate bunnies you can today. Give my grandmoms a hug for me and tell my grandpops and uncle I love them.

I miss you and love you more than anything in the world.

Love,
Jenn

Jennifer Aaron
Duke's Wife

April 8, 2007

Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

-- Robert Frost


Take care Duke. I know you are doing well.

Off. RM (Ret.)
MdTA Police

March 16, 2007

Pennies from Heaven
Written by: Charles Mashburn

I found a penny today
Just laying on the ground
But it's not just a penny
This little coin I've found.

Found pennies come from Heaven
That's what my Grandpa told me,
He said, "Angels toss them down."
Oh, how I loved that story.

He said, "When an angel misses you
They toss a penny down,
Sometimes just to cheer you up
To make a smile out of your frown."

So don't pass by that penny
When you're feeling blue,
It may be a penny from Heaven
That an Angel tossed to you.

March 14, 2007

Jenn,
I want to thank you again for donating to the Police Unity Tour, your kind words left on Scott's page and your reaching out in friendship to me and my family as we travel the road of grief you have been on and continue to go down.
It's been over 6 months since Scott was killed and it just doesn't seem to get any easier. I've read reflections of Duke and can so relate to how you and your loved ones feel.
You said it best in our conversation......There is no fame or glory out of these tragedies, just voids......
Continue to do what is RIGHT FOR YOU and whatever helps you deal with losing Duke. Nut's on the people who can't understand or want to criticize. I see my sister deal with that now.....Just know that the people who truly care about you and love you will be there for you.
I've really enjoyed our conversations and it has helped me in the grieving process..... You are a strong woman and can hold your head up high....Take care yourself....I think about you and Duke often.

P/O D.L. Schappell Baltimore Police
Brother-in-law of P/O Scott A Wertz E.O.W 8-6-2006

March 2, 2007

Jen- Thank you for your kind words. You have a wonderful angel watching over you!It is nice to read of your special memories. It's those things that keep our heros alive in our hearts! You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Allison Diley Lawrence
Daughter of Gregory Diley

February 20, 2007

Shine Your Light Lyrics By: Robbie Robertson

The cry of the city like a siren's song
Wailing over the rooftops the whole night long
Saw a shooting star like a diamond in the sky
Must be someone's soul passing by

These are the streets
Where we used to run where your Papa's from
These are the days
Where you become what you become
These are the streets
Where the story's told
The truth unfolds
Darkness settles in

Shine your light down on me
Lift me up so I can see
Shine your light when you're gone
Give me the strength
To carry on, carry on

Don't wanna be a hero
Just an everyday man
Trying to do the job the very best he can
But now it's like living on borrowed time
Out on the rim, over the line
Always tempting fate like a game of chance
Never wanna stick around to the very last dance
Sometimes I stumble and take a hard fall
Lose hold your grip off the wall

Shine your light down on me
Lift me up so I can see
Shine your light when you're gone
Give me the strength to carry on
Carry on

I thought I saw him walking by the side of the road
Maybe trying to find his way home

He's here but not here
He's gone but not gone
Just hope he knows if I get lost

Shine your light down on me
Lift me up so I can see
Shine your light when you're gone
Give me the strength to carry on
Carry on

February 3, 2007