Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE, AND WEARING THE BADGE WITH HONOR.

WHERE A STAR QUENCHED ON HIGH,
FOR AGES WOULD ITS LIGHT,
STILL TRAVELLING DOWNWARD FROM THE SKY,
SHINE ON OUR MORTAL SIGHT.
SO WHEN A GREAT MAN DIES,
FOR YEARS BEYOND OUR KEN,
THE LIGHT HE LEAVES BEHIND HIM LIES
UPON THE PATH OF MEN.

OFFICER MARK E. VANCE 10-7, GOOD NIGHT SIR. YOU WILL BE GREATLY MISSED!

OFFICER B.L. YOST
LAKE HAVASU CITY POLICE DEPT. LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ.

December 2, 2004

THANK YOU BROTHER FOR GIVING YOUR LIFE SO THE REST CAN LIVE WITHOUT FEAR.

patrolman, Greg Tomlinson
N. Manchester Police

December 2, 2004

In Memory of Officer Vance who was called to make The Ultimate Sacrifice.

What is the meaning of "In The Line Of Duty", It means that an officer made the Ultimate sacrifice. It means that someone took an officer's life. A HERO has fallen.

Officers who gave their all, To protect and serve. Have been killed by someone whom they swore to protect and serve.

It means that their badge will no longer be on their chest, and they will join "The Best Of The Best".

It means that family and friends are left behind, to deal with the lost of a loved one. Only having the memories of that loved close to their hearts. Something no one can ever take away.

It means that family members will stand at the officers grave and wonder why.... Why would someone take an officer's life and leave them there to die? If we only knew.

Today an officer will place their badge on their chest, To fulfill the dreams of heroes killed "In The Line Of Duty."

Officer Vance, you are a true Hero. My thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and Bristol Tennessee Poilce Department.

A Friend of Many Police Officers
Virginia

December 2, 2004

I RODE WITH MARK ONE TIME IN OCTOBER OF 2003. HE LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON ME AND SHOWED A GENUINE AND SINCERE PASSION FOR POLICE WORK AND THE WELLBEING OF HIS COMMUNITY. MAY THE LORD GOD BLESS HIS SOUL AND GRANT HIS FAMILY THE STRENGTH TO ACCEPT AND HEAL.

PATRICK HENDERSON

December 2, 2004

My condolences go out to the family of Officer Mark E. Vance. I want to thank Officer Vance for protecting the community of Bristol Tennessee, my family living within the community were safer because of him. Now Officer Vance has the best patrol beat in the world. He is patrolling the Golden Streets of HEAVAN!
Erica N. Huffman
Former Kokomo Police Cadet Lt. (P.E. 6272)

Erica Huffman
Former Kokomo, Indiana Police Cadet

December 2, 2004

THE SORROW HITS NATION WIDE IN THE FAMILY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN WE LOSE A BROTHER. YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN MAY YOU REST IN PEACE. GODSPEED

SGT CHARLES ROSS
BAKER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

December 2, 2004

Rest in peace brother. My thoughts are with you and your family. God Bless.

Officer J. Long
Bryant Police Department, Arkansas

December 2, 2004

Mark thank you. To his family and his 9 year old daughter, Daddy is a hero and I hope you carry that with you forever. May God bless you in the days to come. But know that our life is not a job it is a stand. Mark stood tall and I salute him and I salute you. God be with us all.
Russ

Russ
Metro Nashville Police Dept.

December 2, 2004

YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN BROTHER.

SGT. J.A. SPENCE
CITY OF GALAX POLICE DEPT.

December 2, 2004

FROM ALL OF US AT THE MORRISTOWN CITY POLICE DEPT. TO THE FAMILY OF OFF. MARK VANCE. YOU ARE IN OUR PRAYERS. MAY GOD WATCH OVER US ALL AND KEEP US. REST IN PEACE MY BROTHER.

PTL. DARRIN BURCHFIELD
MORRISTOWN CITY TENN. PD

December 2, 2004

God's speed Sir.........

wife of a Sgt
Macomb County Sheriff Dept, MI

December 2, 2004

My fiance, Dennis McElderry, was the first law enforcement casualty of 2003. Dennis was a Deputy Sheriff with the Davis County Sheriff's Office in southeast Iowa. Dennis died doing a job he loved, just as I'm sure Mark did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and Mark be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Officer Vance's family, friends, and co-workers must be feeling. My heart goes out to you all. No one can truly understand the pain of our loss until they've walked in our shoes. I wish I could give you a few words of wisdom to help you through this tough time, but there isn't anything I can really say or do to make the situation better. Just know that my thoughts are with you.

Please accept my condolences on behalf of the McElderry family and remember that Mark is part of huge law enforcement family. If you ever need anything any number of them will be there for you (as I've quickly found out!) From reading the many reflections posted here, I am certain Mark was well respected and well loved.

Thank you Officer Vance for a job well done and for helping to make this world a safer place for us all. Please say "hello" to my fiance Dennis for me.

Jocelyne Brar (Winnipeg, MB Canada)
Fiancee of Deputy Sheriff Dennis Ray McElderry - EOW (01/03/03)

December 1, 2004

God Bless you Officer Vance for your service to our community. Our thoughts and prayers will be with your family and your fellow Officers.
You gave the ultimate sacrifice, and now are patrolling the streets of gold. Our community is a better place because of men like you. Rest in peace. GOD BLESS

Reserve Officer
Sullivan County Sheriffs Dept.

December 1, 2004

Death of a fellow LEO has no jurisdiction. We all hurt. Mark, thank you for your service. The impact that you made upon your department and fellow officers will never be forgotten. God Bless you.

Fellow LEO

December 1, 2004

Rest in peace my brother.

Police Officer
Burlington Township PD NJ

December 1, 2004

Rest in Peace.

Officer K.A. Lokey
Norfolk Police Department, Virginia

December 1, 2004

Our deepest sympathy to the Vance family and the members of the Bristol Police Department. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you during this time of mourning.

Sgt. Christopher Oh
Lighthouse Point Police Department

December 1, 2004

RIP brother..... we'll see ya on the flip side.

Bobbie Schwartz
Sister to Fremont County Sheriff's Deputy Jason S. Schwartz
EOW 9.28.01

Bobbie Schwartz
Reno County Ks 911

December 1, 2004

Officer Mark Vance was part of the youth and future of the Bristol Tennessee Police Department. He was among the finest. You could see and feel his enthusiasm and dedication to the job every time you were around him. He was well thought of and liked by all that served with him.

The West zone of the city, that Mark regularly patrolled, always knew when ‘Vance’ was on duty. He was well recognized and respected by the merchants and youth population in that area. He knew them well also.

I was fortunate, as an Auxiliary Officer, to have ridden with Mark many times over the last year. I will miss his laughter, his seriousness, and his professionalism. I’ll miss hearing ‘Central to 438’. He was a friend that I was just beginning to get to know.

Thankfully, there are many other fine officers in the department that I count as friends and will continue to ride and work with. Together, we’ll persevere.

To Mark’s family and friends outside of the department, my thoughts and prayers are with you. I share your sorrow.

Mark, you made the ultimate sacrifice for those you worked with and the community you willingly served. You will be missed, but never forgotten.

You rest now, good friend. You earned it.

Hugh Stringer, Auxiliary 713
Bristol Tennessee Police Department

December 1, 2004

May God Bless you and keep you. I know you will be watching over your fellow officers. I wish many blessing's to your family. Our agency has dealt with the loss of an officer this past year. May all the employee's of this agency know that this officer's dedication will never be forgotten and that he will continue to watch over his fellow officer's for eternity. God Bless.

Jaime Urban - Drug Enforcement Unit
Marion County Sheriff's Office - Ocala, FL

December 1, 2004

Rest in Peace Brother!!!! Our prayers are with your Family and Department.

Ofc. R. A. Collar
Cobb Co PD, GA

December 1, 2004

It is in times of great pain and sorrow that we learn how strong we truely are. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and fellow officers. He is a true hero.

Kayla Maskell
daughter of corrections officer Bruce Maskell

December 1, 2004

My deepest sympathy to the family, friends, and co-workers of Officer Vance. I went to college in Bristol and we always used to talk about how wonderful the Bristol TN police were. Rest in peace, Officer Vance, you will not be forgotten.

a citizen

December 1, 2004

As a resident of Western North Carolina, my heart goes out to our neighbors in TN... Our County lost Sgt. Jeff Hewitt this year, and we feel your hurt. Our prayers are with your family, both at home and work.

December 1, 2004

I wish to extend from my family to yours, our condolences to the Vance Family in this time of terrible loss. I wish your family the best in the future and want to thank your family for the excellence in public service that I know Officer Vance exemplified during his career as a fine public servant.

Those of us in public service respect and grieve your loved one's loss as if it were our own family member. Best wishes to you in this difficult time.

Tom Fenske

November 30, 2004