Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

To Matt and His Daddy,

"Watching You"

Drivin' through town just my boy and me
With a "Happy Meal" in his booster seat
Knowin' that he couldn't have the toy 'til his nuggets were gone,
A green traffic light turned straight to red
I hit my brakes and mumbled under my breath.
His fries went a flyin', and his orange drink covered his lap
Well, then my 4 year old said a 4 letter word
It started with "S" and I was concerned
So I said,
"Son, now where'd you learn to talk like that?"

Chorus"
He said, I've been watching you, dad ain't that cool?
I'm you buckaroo, I want to be like you.
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.
We got cowboy boots and camo pants
Yeah, we're just alike, hey, ain't we dad.
I want to do everything you;
So I've been watching you.

We got back home and I went to the barn
I bowed my head and I prayed real hard
Said, "Lord, please help me help my stupid self."
Just this side of bedtime later that night
Turnin' on my son's Scooby-doo night light,
He crawled out of bed and he got down on his knees.
He closed his little eyes, folded his little hands
Spoke to God like he was talkin' to a friend.
And I said, "Son, now where'd you learn to pray like that?"

Chorus:
He said, I've been watching you, dad ain't that cool?
I'm your buckaroo, I want to be like you.
And eat all my food and brow as tall as you are.
We like fixin' things and holding moma's hand
Yeah, we're just alike, hey, ain't we dad.
I want to do everything you do; so I've been watching you.

With tears in my eyes I wrapped him in a hug.
Said, "MY little bear is grownin' up."
And he said,"But when I'm big I'll still know what to do."

Chorus:
'cause I've been watching you, dad ain't that cool?
I'm your buckaroo' I want to be like you.
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.
By then I'll be strong as superman
We'll be just alike, hey, won't we dad
When I can do everything you do.
'cause I've been watchin' you.
hey yeah
un huh


Matthew walked in your footsteps proudly, now you are walking in his. He's still proud.

Friend

November 29, 2007

Today I decorated the exterior of my home for Christmas using all blue lights. One of those lights has been assigned to you and will be lit every night from now until New Years as a tribute to you and the hero you are. Continue to keep watch over your loved ones, you have not been forgotten.

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

November 25, 2007

Dear Linda ~

Thank you for the reflection you left on Jesse's page, and for being so kind and thinking of me and the kids. I would like very much to get to DC during Police Week - maybe next year - and would be honored to meet you. Thank you for remembering us and please know that your precious Matt is also not forgotten. The holiday season is upon us and it can be so hard sometimes......please know that I think of and pray for you, too.

Warmly,
Carin E. Sollman
Jesse's wife

November 23, 2007

I'm thinking of you right now and I will be thinking about you all day tomorrow. Thank you for being with me everyday. The kids and I ask God every night to make sure you know how much we love you. My precious brother. My funny brother.

Jenny

November 21, 2007

Dear Rittenhouse Family,

I know the loss of Matthew from this earth is so great, and your pain is so deep, but I want to encourage you to continue to walk on in his love and his memory. There are not many people that continue to have the impact that Matt and his life have, especially one so young. I know you are thankful, even in your grief, for his life.

Your parting is not the end of your relationship, only an interruption. Your precious son is experiencing the joy of Christ's presence in a place so wonderful that Christ called it PARADISE. And one day we are told, in a magnificent reunion, they and we "will be with the Lord forever. Therefor encourage each other with these words."

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him. I Cor.2:9

Hold on a little while longer.

Friend

November 21, 2007

Thanksgiving is one of the hardest times for me now Son. I am so thankful you were born and that I was the one that was your momma, but it's so hard to be thankful for the life that we live without you. My heart breaks all over again for what I miss with you. I can only try to console myself with the magnificence of heaven and everyone you are with now, how sweet it will be when we are all back together.

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

Momma

November 19, 2007

Did you ever let your little sis cut your hair? That girl can dance as you already know. People in other towns still ask about you when they see your pin we wear. Matt, you are never forgotten.

friend
HPD

November 14, 2007

Rittenhouse family, I do not have the pleasure of knowing you, never had the honor of knowing your son but I would like you to know you are all held in my heart and my prayers. May He ever bless you all.

November 11, 2007

Matt...i love you...that's always first and foremost.
we all really need some help down here...
some guidence, strength...so ask God to send some angels.
or a sniper.
He'll know which one.

half-joking lil sis~

Jessica

*ps-you were the best brother a little sister could
ever hope for. thanks for making me tough.

November 9, 2007

Hey,
I have had the honor of meeting your father. It is easy to see you in his laugh. He is doing well here. I recently asked him why he wanted to be a police officer. He stated you as the reason. I think he is beginning to see the joy and honor you experienced by being an officer. God bless brother and I hope Heaven is as beautiful today as it has ever been.
Kubic

J. Kubic
TLETA

November 8, 2007

To Matt's Mom,

I did not have the privilege of knowing your son personally.
We met in Washington breifly in May of 2005 when Matt was honored.It was obvious then as now how much he was loved and what a special person and wonderful son he was.
Your precious words to him move and inspire me so much and I just wanted to tell you that. Matt's life was cut short but it sounds like you all had made plenty of wonderful memories in his short lifetime. Your strength and loving attitude amazes me. You were very blessed with a son like Matt as he was with a Mom like you.How precious is a Mother's Love. Thinking of you often and keeping you in our prayers.
Carolyn Scott
Dep Jason Scott's Step Mom EOW 3-12-04

friend

November 6, 2007

I was talking to your momma the other day and I told her I would never forget you and that other people would never forget you because there is no one else like you and there never would be. I gave her a hug from me and from you.

Love you Brother.

November 3, 2007

Well Matt, Mama Mayes is with you now. John is depending on you to help God take care of her. She loves you like your one of her own. Please comfort John and the rest of his family and all the guys in blue that loved her dearly during this time as well. They are going to need it.

October 31, 2007

Hey My Son,

It's been such a hectic few days, I'm through with work (briefly :), and I've just been sitting here reading reflections on some of the guys pages, and thinking of you and life. I find myself frequently lately having to remind myself that I have to live not just exist. That is harder to do than people realize, I look at your picture and see your smile and your smiling eyes that seem to be looking right back into mine. I smile back and just hold onto the love that is there. I saw one of your old friends the other day that I hadn't seen in a while, we cried, and hugged, and talked about you, then we laughed and cried, and hugged some more. I find comfort in every hug that I know you send me through friends, and strangers, that knew and loved you.

Today is beautiful out. How beautiful it must be in heaven.

I love you son of my life.

Momma

October 30, 2007

Wow, I can't believe it's been 3 years. That's hard because I still have the whole scene in my mind of that night. Not many people know that me, John, and Charlie were the first 3 people on the scene. I remember standing there in the pouring rain looking down at your car and watching as the other emergency personel got there and watching John and Charlie pace back and forth trying to figure the whole thing out. I knew how close you and John were/are and I wasn't sure he was going to handle it as well as he did and has. He misses you though. Everyday! He loves telling stories about the things you guys did and the trouble you got into together and let me just say I've got my hands full with him. This is the first time I've put anything on here. It's hard to come to this website and do this and I guess to me in doing this I really have to face the fact that you're not here physically anymore. I was thinking about one of our last conservation we had before that night. I was ready to ring your neck because you had opened your big mouth to John about a gun. Then of coarse John had to have it. So he got it for his birthday that month. (LOL) John loves your parents so much and I must say I've gotten pretty attached myself. We are both very proud of your Dad and your Mom is hanging in there. You're special to us and always will be. Matt - I can't say good-bye cause it's not forever. Fare ye well til we meet again. Our days apart are but for a moment. Though my heart cries, I want to say to you....so long for now I'll see you soon.

Christy Mayes
Friend

October 16, 2007

Well, Daddy is on the road to academy, I kept the tears in until he was out of the drive-way, which was quite a trick since he pulled out and then pulled right back in....almost got me with that! You know you are his inspiration and his strength, as you are to us all......really as we all are to each other. We all stand strong together in our love for each other, nothing or no thing will ever change that.

I love you Baby Boy,

Momma

October 14, 2007

To the family of Officer Matthew Rittenhouse: I was linked to this Memorial Page by a Friend of yours in Harriman who asked me to pray for you, and it's my Privilege to do so. Your Friend and mine most always encourages me with these parting words..."May God whoop a blessing on you!" That's my sincere desire for all of you today, that you may continue to know and be comforted by the Peace that only God can bless us with.

Respectfully,

BurninStick (Zechariah 3:2, NIV)
Tarboro, NC

BurninStick
friend of a Friend

October 10, 2007

As soon as your picture appeared it hit me all over again. Are you not here? ARE YOU NOT HERE? Why are you one of these names listed here? I miss you and love you so much. We all do. You are never apart from any of us. Please keep us right there with you and keep your hand on Dad's shoulder while he's away at academy.

And I got every penny yesterday... every last one.

Jenny

October 9, 2007

To Matt's Family and his department:

May you find a little peace in knowing that there are others that care about the pain you suffer and your well-being. My prayers continue to be with you.

Kay Wood
Mother of Deputy Marshal Glen DeVanie, End of Watch 4/2/2003

October 8, 2007

And what a motorcycle run it was! It was just amazing seeing all those riders going under the American Flag. What an honor to be able to experience all of it. The one flaw in the ride was of course BJ's unfortunate wreck. Like the Chief said, he is stubborn and tough and he will make it. The trip that 9 of us took on Sunday to visit him was good too. HE was the one that made us all laugh standing by his hospital bed. We laughed so hard about certain things on the way home our stomachs are all sore. Time to get to the PD and work, keep the watch Matt.

Karen B. Joseph 933
Harriman Police Department

October 5, 2007

Tomorrow is the motorcycle run. You have got to be laughing your head off at the things I am involved in now. Only for you son, only for you.

I LOVE YOU. More than the world, forever and always, to eternity and beyond.

Put your arm around me, and kiss me on the top of my head tomorrow when the run starts, I know you'll be there.

Momma

September 28, 2007

"Our lives are shaped as much by those who leave us, as they are by those who stay."

You continue to impact people's lives, and I suspect that will always be the case.

You are always missed and remembered.

Friend

September 27, 2007

Matt-

Just wanted to say that I miss you and miss seeing you around Harriman. I think about you a lot; especially since I work with both your sisters. Your dad pulled me over the other night because I had a headlight out...and we talked about you. I will never forget when all of us went to Gatlinburg and you kept making prank calls to Walmart on the way saying that their meat gave your dog mad cow disease...or the toilet paper incident when you made everyone sing "I'm a little teapot." Good times! I really miss you.

Tonya Sitzlar
friend

September 22, 2007

Matt,
Thinking of you and your family this month.

Chief Joseph F. Clark, Jr
North Caldwell Police Dept, NJ

September 19, 2007

My prayers are with your family and your fellow officers.

Cpl.Edgemon
Tn.Dept.of Correction

September 19, 2007