Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Just got back from DC. What an awesome week we had there! It was busy and emotional and tiring but a wonderful experience, overall. I'm so glad the kids and I were able to see you be honored there.

Joe and Alison were wonderful. They never left our sides and made sure we had everything we needed or wanted. We had a lot of fun with them in the mix too! God blessed us with their continued support and friendship. Brett and the other guys rode their bikes throughout the week and truly paid respect to you by escorting us everywhere that we went. Bri and Bridge were the best and the kids and I were so proud to have them and so many of your co-workers and friends there for us, as well as, to honor you.

You would have loved that I shook hands with George W. and the kids got their name tags signed by him. We have about a hundred pictures and the kids were thrilled to meet our president. I know you were watching from above and it wasn't just a coincidence that Vince Gill sang your favorite song which was the one we played at the funeral...and Mark being placed in seat 33....I never wonder about those moments and happenings.

The kids and I reconnected with everyone we had met before and met many more survivors who will continute to support us through this journey. I know we have a lot more work on this grief to go through but I feel recharged by this week. I hope this positive feeling continues for a while....it feels good. You know I miss you and love you, and have never been more proud to have had you in my life to love...until later, boo.

neece

May 16, 2006

15 months ago today we lost you. Time, recently, has been flying by. I know part of it is because of DC...I'm feeling pretty anxious about it. I waited until the last moment to pack and prepare...a part of me wanted to be so busy and focused on the details, that I wouldn't have to feel what I feel. This being the last big memorial has me thinking all kinds of thoughts and feeling all kinds of feelings. Doors are closing, chapters ending and the future is looming...I get that overwhelming feeling sometimes thinking about it. I'm just trying to stay centered on today...it's gotten me through to this point so far. I love you, boo.

neece

May 9, 2006

Were missing you

May 7, 2006

Just missing you like I always do...My head and my heart are full of thoughts of you...I love you, boo.

neece

May 3, 2006

Hey Mike,

Thought about you today. We dealt with a drunk female that kept kicking at us while putting her in the back of the squad car. We had a laugh at your expense..We talked about you getting kicked by the old man the day after your big "V" surgery.

Now that's a funny story!

Sure miss talkin with ya,

Monte
WCAP

May 2, 2006

We will be in Washington with honor and respect to hear your name read.

Linda Rittenhouse, Matt's Mom
Matthew Rittenhouse EOW 9/16/04

Linda Rittenhouse

May 2, 2006

Thinking of you today

April 29, 2006

I am a member of the Police Unity Tour and riding in his honor my bicycle 318 miles. This is an annual event and I have been riding for over 4 yrs in Police Officers killed in the line of duty. I would like to present the family with his memorial bracelet.

Thank you and in his honor I ride

Stepehn DeRosa
NJ Police Unity Tour

Sgt Stephen DeRosa
West Orange Police Dept NJ

April 23, 2006

Hey Mike,
We were transferring our VCR footage to DVD the other day and we watched Christmas of 1998. What a fun Christmas. Luckily Brian was overdoing the whole "let's get everyone on camera" thing. Everyone was rolling their eyes and wishing that he would just shut it off, but I'm glad that he did it. Seeing you and dad laughing and talking was so nice. It's easy to take things like that for granted. Of course watching something like that will take you through several emotions in a matter of minutes. But, Brian was able to laugh at some of the things that were being said (and done). DC is right around the corner and I know that we will all be overwhelmed with so much emotion from sadness to pride, but we are looking forward to being there to honor you. We miss you tons.

Bridget
Sister-In-Law

April 22, 2006

Three weeks till we go to D.C.....just thinking about it alot. The kids are really looking forward to going and reconnecting with those they met at camp and meeting the other kids just like them....it brings them comfort and a connection just knowing that they aren't alone in this...it does the same for me. Just came on today to connect with you....I love you, boo

neece

April 20, 2006

God Bless...

April 19, 2006

Happy Easter Mike

WCAAP

April 17, 2006

Mrs. Scarbrough,

I saw your reflection on another officer's site and wanted to take a moment to reach out to you. I'm so sorry for your terrible loss.

I've read through some of your reflections to your husband, and it's almost like reading my own words. I, too, am glad that I am at a point in my grieving where I can offer comfort to others. Only those of us who have been through it can really understand what it's like, those horrible first few days and weeks. I remember it all so clearly. My heart breaks for each new widow.

I understand what you mean when you say you have moments of happiness now - different than before, but still happiness. The light still shines, doesn't it? In those first few weeks after Jesse died I didn't think there would ever be light again, only darkness and pain.....but I'm so relieved to discover that it really does get better. The pain and sadness will always be there, but life really does go on. How do we convey that to the women who are just beginning this journey? How do we help them see that they will be alright? There really are no words to comfort them......they just need to find a way through it and let others carry them when they can't walk on their own.

I hope you had a Happy Easter. Spring is finally arriving and the weather here is beautiful - we planted a weeping cherry tree in memory of Jesse in our front yard last fall. It is in full bloom now - a testament to new life, hope and new beginnings. I'll be holding you in my thoughts and prayers and look forward to meeting you in DC.

Thank you, Sergeant Scarbrough, for your service and ultimate sacrifice. May God bless you and may you continue to rest in eternal peace, forever safe in the arms of the angels.

They are gone, but they are never forgotten.

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

April 16, 2006

Happy Easter Michael. We're missing you and loving you, boo.

neece

April 16, 2006

Denise and Family,
I just left Wayne's site and wanted to stop by and say Happy Easter to you and your family. It will be another day, another step, thats for sure. We both seem to take a few forward and back at times, don't we. I just try to remember, for all the baby steps I take, there's a leap in there somewhere too. That leap seems to be the time when I realize I've made progress. Baby steps, breathe. Baby steps, breathe. Leap, gasp for air, lol. Its all about the little things, I guess. Well, take care. I'll hopefully see you in a few weeks.

Ashley Koester

April 15, 2006

REST IN PEACE SERGEANT SCARBROUGH

MICHIGAN

April 13, 2006

Thinking of you today

April 12, 2006

14 months today. Woke up early again thinking of you. I got the new Rascal Flatts CD yesterday. You always knew how much I loved their music and couldn't wait to tell people that I predicted their fame as soon as their first CD came out. The kids love them almost as much as you and I did now. We listened to the new CD as soon as we got it and of course, the first song on the track spoke to me and made me think of you and this journey of our grief....

Stand

You feel like a candle in a hurricane
Just like a picture with a broken frame
Alone and helpless,
Like you've lost your fight
But you'll be alright,
you'll be alright

'Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend 'til you break
'Cause it's all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad, you get strong
Wipe your hands, shake it off
Then you stand, then you stand

Life's like a novel with the end ripped out
The edge of a canyon with only one way down
Take what you're given before it's gone
And start holdin' on, keep holdin' on

'Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend 'til you break
'Cause it's all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad, you you get strong
Wipe your hands, shake it off
Then you stand, then you stand

Every time you get up
And get back in the race
One more small piece of you
Starts to fall into place-yeah

Then you stand.

What an awesome song...I'm still trying to stay strong and be positive about the future...most days I do. The band is coming in June and I'm taking the kids to their first concert. They're sooo excited....me too. I love and miss you, boo.

neece

April 9, 2006

There missing you

April 9, 2006

Everyday I think of Mike and his family and never believe he is not with all of you in some way. I find myself reading these reflections each day no matter how busy my days get for that is how much wonderful of a person I found Mike to have been. Denise, I know you do not know me that well, but each day, you inspire me to be the best person I know how to be. I know Mike is so very proud of all of you and protects you each and every day. Grief is not an easy process and it is a long journey. It is a path we are not given the choice to travel down and you are taking your journey with amazing dignity. God Bless...JoAnne

DEPUTY JOANNE BEMIS
OAKLAND COUNTY

April 5, 2006

A HERO Lives On Forever....

LK
Michigan

April 2, 2006

Listening him talk about you, take care and god bless

March 31, 2006

Michael. Been thinking about you alot lately. Everytime I look at your pictures around the house I get rushes of memories of us as kids. Sometimes I see us as men playing catch. We would stand out there for at least an hour at a time just talking and throwing the ball around. Some of the faces you would make are still so vivid to me. Funny, you always would start to "show-off" with your trick catches behind the back. Thinking about you makes me sad but sometimes it makes me laugh. I miss you so much Mike! I don't think I'll ever heal completely. I miss your voice on the phone. How even though you didn't like to chat you always found time for me. I miss calling you every time I took a deer out of the woods; you were always the first one I called.
I wear my Saint Michael necklace everyday. Please keep your eye on me. I'll see again someday, and we'll play some catch again.

Your still my hero!
Love and miss you
Brian

Brian Scarbrough
Brother

March 31, 2006

Just thinking about you alot and missing you.

I just got off the phone with a mom from the kids old school. She lost her husband suddenly 3 weeks ago....I feel her desperation and how overwhelmed she is by her situation...everything comes rushing back on how I felt those first few weeks....I'm saddened by knowing the long road she has ahead of her before she gets any moments of relief from her feelings of heartache.

She told me she's comforted by the reassurance I give her that she'll feel moments of happiness again. I told her that it doesn't mean that losing you will ever be o.k. or that she will ever experience the happiness and life that she once had...that your absence is felt everyday...and that losing your soulmate is unimaginably devastating....but...it will be a different kind of happy and I pray with God's grace, it'll keep getting better.


It truly sucks that I understand her pain but at the same time, I'm glad I am where I'm at in my grieving so that I can be there to support her and offer any help that I can.

I'm just remembering you and feeling the saddness and ache of losing you today. I love you, boo.

neece

March 30, 2006

Watch over me this week Scrap.
Missin' you always.
L

March 29, 2006