Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

It doesn't seem possible that 4 years have gone by. Sometimes I can still hear your giggle. Linda and Jess you're in my thoughts and prayers.

former HPD officer

September 16, 2008

My thoughts are with all of your loved ones today for I know the heaviness they feel in their hearts every day and even more on this day. You will always be remembered by those who love you and the Blue Family will not let you be fortotten. Continue to watch over all of your loved ones and wrap your wings around them and protect them from harm. You are a true hero and will never be forgotten.

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

September 16, 2008

Well, Matt it has been 4 years that you have been gone and I miss you soooo much. I miss seeing your smile and hearing your voice. Just one more run through the parking lot would be so sweet!!!! Just know that I love and miss you.

Bea

September 16, 2008

To dearest Matt and his mother Linda and all of his loving family:

Linda, I know that today you have a heavy heart for this is the anniversary date of the day your lives changed forever. My heart aches for you and you are in my heart's embrace. Anyone who has ever read one of your reflections knows that there is no end to a mother's love and that it is there for all eternity. We cherish our beloved sons and their memories, and long for the day all of our loved ones can be together again. Until then, we soldier on the best that we can. Linda, I am proud to call you my friend.

I hope that you find solace today in your wonderful memories of your splendid son. Rest In Peace, Matt.
You will be forever missed and forever honored.

Phyllis Loya, mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater, eow 4/24/05

phyllis loya
mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater

September 16, 2008

I can't believe it has been 4 years since you left us. Feels like just lastnight we were all at the hospital, you are missed so much and loved by so many people here. Yours is a legacy that will live on forever, you can never be forgotten. BTW, I wrecked and prob. totaled my car the other day, I am sure you were watching and got a good laugh out of it when we all came out of it ok, all the guys are still ragging me over the video of the inside of the car when we got hit, pretty funny stuff.

I love you and I miss you, you will always be my best friend.

Kasey

Kasey McKeller Mynatt
Harriman Police Dept.

September 16, 2008

Matt, I love all your family dearly. I know today will be hard for them as is each and every day. The memorial is awesome! I already took a peek, I had no choice...your mother can be very persuasive as you and your sisters already know. You are remembered today and always.

Karen
Harriman Police Department

September 15, 2008

Just wanted to stop by today and let you and your family know we are thinking and praying for all of you. Tomorrow is your 4th birthday in Heaven, and I know your family misses you even more today. Matt keep watching over your family, and keep sending all those signs. Let Clint know we miss him and love getting all the signs from him.

I still think of you everyday, I have your picture that your Mom sent, it will always have a place in my living room along with Clint's.

Matt you and Clint get together and send a smile our way.

Connie Barker F.W.B. Fl.
Mother of Clint Walker Prattville Al. E.O.W. 1-14-04

September 15, 2008

Remembering you and your family at this anniversary time. Thank you for your service and dedication to keep us safe.

Carol Espinoza, Isaac's Mom

September 13, 2008

Daddy and I went to the Blue Knights 9.11 Remembrance Motorcycle Run this morning in Knoxville. He spoke about C.O.P.S. and did such a great job, I was so proud of him. They gave me a standing ovation.....just because I am your momma.....even death cannot take that away. We stood at the front and waved them all out onto the highway. It's such an amazing sight.....that huge flag.....all those motorcycles.....all giving us a wave, a smile, a thumbs up....

I love you Son. Always and Forever.

Momma

September 6, 2008

I am so selfish--I want you here so badly. You are in the most amazing place in the world; you smile and sing (beautifully) for all of eternity. Yet, I want nothing more than to have you here. I feel so lost and so confused, and I know that you would know exactly what to say. My heart is broken, I have lost hope, I feel purpose-less. Even though we went through a very rough patch- we were beginning to get through it when you were taken from us. I know that no one else could guide me and love me through the pain and healing like you could. Please ask God to send me someone to help me through. I miss you---we all miss you. I think of you often---your smile, your laugh, your compassion, your love of life...you are a hero!

Anonymous

August 28, 2008

Jenny, Matthew, Jessica
All I ever wanted was to be a mother
Jenny, Matthew, Jessica
I was given the gift of being YOUR mother
Jenny, Matthew, Jessica
Always and forever I love you and thank God for you.

Momma

August 27, 2008

I need to hear you say "settle down,mom" and that everything will be ok.

I miss you so much.

Momma

August 24, 2008

I was in Washington this week and stopped by your name on the wall. I wanted you to know that we said a prayer for you and all your family. Thank you for your sacriface Matthew and thank you Linda for your special heart. EOW 4/25/03 Mother of Cole

Anonymous

August 24, 2008

Linda ~

I see your reflections everywhere on this site - you are such a wonderful person and an amazing mother - you are always willing to offer support to others and I hope you know how much it means. Your words are such a source of comfort and strength.

Your son is also not forgotten, nor is his sacrifice. His memory lives on in the hearts of others. I hope the encouragement you give to other survivors finds it's way back to you tenfold.

With warm thoughts,

Carin E. Sollman, widow
Officer Jesse E. Sollman, EOW 3/25/05

August 11, 2008

I was in Washington last week and went to the National Law Enforcement Memorial and left a rose in memory of Matt.
Thinking of you and your family today.

Lorraine Bond

Anonymous

August 4, 2008

Well son, the jury deliberations start in the morning. I felt you so strongly today while I sat there listening to closing arguments and being with the Jones and Brown families. Such strong families, heartbroken, but strong. I am SO proud to be a law enforcement family. I am SO proud to be your momma.

Always and forever, to eternity and beyond, I love you.

Momma

July 25, 2008

Just stopping by to say hello to you..

hope you and daniel are hanging out in Heaven.

I hope you are doing okay Mrs. Rittenhouse! I think of you often.

Love,
Jessica Bankston (Ruhl)
Dan Starks EOW 10-25-03

Anonymous

July 15, 2008

Hey Matt
Well i had the pleasure of working with your Dad for a few minutes the other night. I was told a Harriman officer needed a Kingston officer in Midtown. So here i go, and MAN talk about dejavu. There's your dad with a slightly intoxicated person who was needing a ride home. As i was transporting her all i could think about was when you called me and said you had a guy that needed a ride home could i meet you at Pattersons. When i got there it was the town drunk(well one of the many) that needed a ride home. I said ohhhh you soooo owe me one for this, and all i got was that Matt chuckle, and that Matt grin as you drove off. All i heard from him was hey hey hey man you think Washam will make me a reserve. You'll put in a good word for me won't you. LOL!!!!!!! Dads wasn't anywhere as bad as your, but he still owes me :)

Troy Wright
Kingston Police Dept.

July 14, 2008

You wrote your name on a paper and
I accidently threw it away.
You wrote your name on my hand,
and I washed my hand.
You wrote your name in the snow,
but the snow melted.
But when you wrote your name in my heart,
there, it would always stay!!
Love and miss you always....

Bea

July 9, 2008

I love you and miss you so much.

Momma

July 3, 2008

matt...

thank you for the hug last night in my dream. dreams are sometimes so strange, but last night when you and kasey showed up and i got to actually FEEL like a little sister again (you checking up on me, me asking if i could hang out with you two, asking you to take sarge home for me, hugging you and refusing to let go...you letting me hug you as long as i wanted), well, let's just say i didn't want to wake up because i didn't want it to end. and when i did wake up, i tried to go back to sleep just in case you would be there again. you looked good in your uniform, but i must say...you had quite an unorthodox way of carrying your gun. i love you...a million times and more. and i miss you...every second of every day.

jessica

i just realized in the dream...you and Kasey were working together at Harriman...you all looked so right in your uniforms standing next to each other...you talked more than Kasey...it was so real!!! :) ...I wish it was all real.

'lil sis...

June 23, 2008

Matt -
Through all the tragedy of you leaving us, goodness, kindness, a new friendships have resulted in it. Sure we have pain and sorrow, but true friendship has stepped up to console each one of us that knew you in a different way. My wife and I talked with your sister for a few hours last night, funny stories of you and all that was "Matt." It helps to talk about you often. We trained last week at the S.O. and I thought about you and how you could turn simmunitions into a whole new ballgame.

I have lost allot of people that were close to me over the past few years. I have watched people close to me loss their loved ones. Fay is gone, Momma Mays, Bill, Boss Hog, so many that we started out our careers with. I try and remember everyday not to take anyone for granted, and never leave the ones that mean so much to me without making sure they know how much I love them.

I try and carry on with the job that we started out doing, (for the right reasons, not the pay Lord knows) and you were so good at. You truly had a way with people, no matter what their walk of life, you could always connect with them. I miss you Matt, and hurt for your family as I know they hurt over not having you. I see it in their eyes, hear it in their voice, but yet they stand strong. They even help others to stand strong. Your family is truly remarkable, and I know them much better now. Even from above you continue to bring all of us together, and make us laugh.

Friend

June 15, 2008

I've been thinking about you. You have such wonderful parents. Thank you, Linda, for leaving Isaac a candle during Police Week.

Carol Espinoza
Isaac's Mom
E.O.W. 4/10/04

June 15, 2008

Linda,
Words cannot express my deepest gratitude to you for leaving a candle at The Wall for my husband, Bryan. I have never had the pleasure of meeting you in person, but I can only imagine what a special bond you and your son had, and how truly proud you continually make him everyday. Thank you so very much for your very kind and thoughtful deed.

Juli Verkler
Widow of Ptlm. Bryan S. Verkler EOW 12/13/03

June 10, 2008

I just wanted to thank your mother for leaving a candle and remembering Clint at the wall in D.C. Linda I still have Matt and Clint's pictures together, that you sent me a couple of years ago. We will never forget Matt and the sacrifice that all of you make everyday without Matt here with you. Like Bob said we could all fill a huge pond with all the tears (silent and aloud) that we have shed for our babies. And I know that I would trade places with Clint without even blinking and eye and be so happy to do so. But since that's not going to happy, I know that we all have such wonderful memories that hopefully will carry us till we are all together. And you know that they are all watching over us, I know that I can feel and since Clint alot of times.
Thanks again Linda, we will never forget.

Connie Barker F.W.B. Fl.
Mother of Clint Walker Prattville Al. E.O.W. 1-14-04

June 9, 2008