Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Happy Birthday baby! I can't believe this is the 2nd birthday we are going through without you already...I wish we could be in VA and have your bday party again...Chris could grill again...and the kids would sing with us and blow out your candles....I miss you so very much.. I love you more than ever...Help me to be strong today...I need you... I love you..always, me

June 26, 2006

I search this page often and always check the city's close to where I grew up in Chesapeake, I was not aware of your passing until I came across it tonight, It was the same time I was moving to Florida to start my LEO career down here. But even though I dont know you, I have read you reflections and seen the great things people have said about you, It would have been a honor to have met you! Thank you for a job well done brother! Now you walk heavens street and patrol streets of gold! Godspeed brother! We have the watch now!

Rec. Brothers
Osceola CJA

June 23, 2006

Happy Father's Day! Missed you yesterday....would have been nice to take you to Sonic again! 15 months today.. not a day goes by that I don't think of you... I love you ...always, me

June 19, 2006

Hey Drew, as always you are in my thoughts. Happy Fathers Day to probably the best parent I know. I hope I can turn out to be half the Father you were. Just finished feeding "baby Drew", they are both doing well. You never told me it was this much work. See you soon enough my friend. Thanks for watching over us all!

officer John Lane
McKinney Texas PD (former Suffolk Va PD)

June 18, 2006

Tomorrow is Father's Day. You should be here. My heart breaks that you can't be with your kids. I miss you so much Drew. We drove home from Florida today. I thought a lot about you on the way home. I stared out the window for three hours while Lawson slept and thought about the things we used to do as kids. Remember the Big Rocket in Georgia where we would always stop on the way to Granddaddy's house to eat Krystal Burgers? We passed it today and I thought of us.

I miss your hugs! I miss that last hug you gave me in the Shoney's parking lot. I thought about my wedding reception when we danced and you told me you were proud of me. I can hear your voice in my mind and long to hear you again. I hope that you knew how much you meant to me. I know I didn't tell you enough or show you, but I do love you to the moon. I am so proud of the man you became and can only wish to be half the person you were. I love you dearly. I hope that you can see us all now and know how very much you are missed. You had some pretty great friends who loved you and they keep me going. I’m so glad to have them in my life now to keep me smiling and moving forward.

Your birthday is coming up. You should be turning 35.. five years older than me... but your not. And I'm not ok with it. Not at all. I turned 30 last month, and I didn't get a phone call from you giving me a hard time about being old. I'm not ok with that either. I'm not ok with you being gone. You are suppose to be here giving me a hard time about not calling. I was so bad for that. And boy do I regret it now. I would give anything to have it all back now. I would call you so much that I would drive you batty!

I love you Drew. Thank you for being a great big brother. I love you and miss you more than you could ever begin to imagine. Matt said at your burial that this was going to be tough on me because I have a “tender heart”, and he was right on the money! My heart just brakes everyday. I love you and can only hope you know just how very much.

Liz
Sister

June 17, 2006

Talked to Skyler today...he is with Lizzy B....the thought of never seeing him again kills me...I know I will see him again, but it may take a while... I am so glad he is there with your mom and Matt....getting to know his cousins....he will always remember this...he is so grown up already....I sent him some pics from our DC trip...I know he misses you...Austin misses you too....I felt so bad when he cried at the memorial service...so hard for him to know what to feel.. you will always be his daddy...CJ told me the other day that it would be cool if you were still alive and you could be the president and then we could live in the big house....silly boy....he talks about you a lot...he is so cute about it...remember when Drew did this or that...before he died....then he will say "I wish he was still here"...we all wish you were still here...can you believe how Alex is growing up? so beautiful and mature...how will she ever make it through the teenage years with you...I am sure she and I will have lots of battles... I was counting on you to be on her side..spoil her ...but I guess you probably would have been strickter than me...and then you guys would have battled...still, I know she would have loved for you to be here to look out for her and protect her....she misses you so much...it's harder for her to say so...she wants to be strong for me....inside we will always have a piece of our hearts missing ....shattered the day you left us...She will never ever watch "The Incredibles" again..she can't bear to remember what we were doing the last time we saw you...me either...I just wish I had stopped watching the movie and spent those few minutes with you while you were getting ready to leave.. who knew?? who knew I would miss those 20 minutes so much?? who knew we would never again be able to touch, laugh, hug, kiss? I miss you everyday baby....I look forward to the day when I can see you again...was that you the other day? the watch?? the pictures?? I wish I could hear your voice...just one more time "hello beautiful"...I would never have believed it if you hadn't said it...I love Drew...always and forever....me

June 8, 2006

I miss you baby...I miss you everyday...I wish I could see your smile again...I wish I could hear your laugh....the kids miss you so very much....we love you...forever and ever... we love you... I love you....always, me

June 4, 2006

They say that of all things, something good comes. I have given long thought to this and realize that it is true, no matter how painful it is. If I hadn't gotten you to come to Va to work, if funding for contracts hadn't been pulled, none of the proceeding events would have occured. What ended up happening is that you got to fulfill a lifetime dream and my family ended up getting to spend more time with your and your new family. In the tragic end, your family became my family and will remain so. You have a wonderful wife, kids, and sister. We love them all as they are our own blood. As for your extended family in blue, I often worried about you on the street, knowing I never got to take you to any "hot" zones with me in the Corps to get you prepared. After meeting your fellow officers, talking, laughing, and getting to know them, I now know that you were well looked after. I often wondered if those guys were as loyal to you as I knew you would be to them. Those questions are now gone. Any of these guys would look after you and your family without question or hesitance. You left behind a lot of wonderful people. You also brought a lot of strangers close together and forged bonds that cannot be broken. Thank you for being a great friend.... rest in peace brother.

Jeff
Friend

May 24, 2006

"Friendship... some people move our souls to dance and stay in our hearts forever." These were the friends I made in Washington last week. It was incredible, Drew. Your family and friends accepted your crazy little sis with open arms. We absolutely had a blast. You were there. I'm sure of it….watching in the wings with that brilliant smile on your face. And there your name is ... on the wall for all to see the hero you were not only to me my whole life, but to everyone you knew and loved. It was overwhelming the amount of support and love that engulfed D.C. last weekend….the most amazing experience of my life. I am so glad I had the opportunity to go and be with such loving, thoughtful, caring people who all loved you more than you could imagine.

McCarley, Butts, Scherer and Chipman…. What can you even say about these guys? They made the weekend what it was… and I thank them for it! They captured my heart and made me laugh. And as you know, there is nothing more healing than a good laugh.

Chrissy… I am so glad you married her. We have become the best of friends through this terrible tragedy. If I didn’t have her by my side, there is no way I could be holding my head as high as I do today.

You were a wonderful man with a great big heart and I can only hope you know how very much I love you. Thank you for your legacy. It makes me so proud!

I love you to the moon and back again.

Liz
Baby Sis

May 21, 2006

Well Drew,
We have just returned from the National Lawenforcement Memorial service in DC...It was awesome! Chrissy held up well though we all had our moments. Seeing your name on "The Wall" was a little too much for me at first but Liz and Chrissy were a great comfort. We laughed, cried and remembered. It was good to see your family together again. Matt and your Mom looked great. If I hadn't seen it, I would not have believed the support officers from all over the world offered in any way they could. Your sister and Chrissy shuttled around by the Secret Service as if it were thier personal limo...yeah. It was a hoot, Liz would say. President George Bush kissed your wife, she is not gonna let us forget that! She has the pictures to prove it. I was glad all the academy class could make the trip, thanks to your loving wife...tell you about that later; you'll get a kick out of that story. This trip was good therapy for me man...I miss you and still hear your voice on 1 ADAM now and then. The kids did very well, Alex was great on the Unity Tour Ride. She told me she was nervous before the ride but we worked it out. CJ, well he's still CJ what can I say. I could not believe how much Skylar has grown since I had seen him last. He's still in your corner. Austin didn't talk much but seemed OK. I told Liz I was coming to visit you some time this summer. See if you can put in a word with the BIG GUY and give us a sunny day together.
Love you man,
John.

Detective
Suffolk Police Department

May 20, 2006

Dearest Chrissy ~

I am so glad we were able to meet this weekend! You are my friend and my sister - our hearts are forever linked together. I hope Jesse and Drew have also found each other as we have.

We need to keep in touch and try to get together. We share the same journey, a journey which finally seems to be getting easier. The load is lighter. The pain doesn't cut so deep anymore.

It's true what Shirley Gibson said - when the strength inside you becomes stronger than the pain inflicted upon you, you stop being a victim and become a survivor. We are survivors, Chrissy!

Take care and we will talk soon.


With much love, warm wishes and support,

~ Carin

May 17, 2006

Hey baby...first let me just say how unimaginably proud I am to be your wife...this weekend was something I looked forward to for a long time...although there was a lot of tears, there was so much more joy...I want to thank you Drew...for making me who I am today...for making me believe in myself...for making it ok for me to be me...no one has ever done that the way you did...I miss you everyday...but I know you are in a wonderful place...I know now that our meeting was for a reason...I just wish it hadnt ended so soon...I also want to thank you for your friends..."my guys" I like to call them, even though some are girls!!! They treat me like a queen...they give me so much love...I hated to leave them to come back to FL today...I wish I could have spent the next months just being with them...but life goes on and we all must get back to our realities...Liz is amazing...and you know how much she loves you....what she doesnt know is how very much you loved her....she was so great this weekend..I wish she lived around the corner! We are forever changed because of you, and we are forever family because of you...

For you guys: John, Josh, Joey, Chris, Jeff, Leslie, Chip, Alan, Kristin, Dave ...how can I ever repay what you did for me this weekend...I know I am the queen, but you guys rule my world...always....Thanks for being there with me!!! I had the best time ever!!! Drew would be so grateful to you for looking out for me and the kids...I can't wait to see you all again!!!! I love you!!!

Drew, you are now and forever memorialized on the National Law Enforcement Memorial wall... panel 6 W line 25 ...for those who pass by those walls, they will know the sacrifice you made...they will know the pain we have endured with your loss...but most of all..they will know you were a HERO....which the rest of us already knew... We love you Drew... mostly I love you...I miss you...now and forever...always, me

May 16, 2006

Drew,
A big gathering going on this weekend in honor of you and the police memorial. I wish I could be there, I wish I was there. I miss you Drew, I miss all of the guys back home. I know you are here with us, I talk about you a lot to the guys here also.

Chrissy,
Thank you for the gifts for the boys. It is an honor to name Michael after Drew! Please, no need for the thank you....I love you guys! I wish I could have been there with you guys this weekend, I am sorry! Chrissy, always remember....Drew is, was, and always will be in our hearts. He made me proud to be a Training Officer, never was one to ever come close to him since. (I don't think SPD will miss me!) :)

Liz,
I wanted to say hello and thank you for the gifts also. I told you that I will stay in touch. I love you and wish I was there this weekend with you, Chrissy, and the gang. Drew was (IS) a great person, you should be proud to have him as a brother. Thank you all for opening your hearts and home to me when I was down there the first time. All of YOU are wonderful.

Drew, I will see you soon enough my friend......I miss you everyday! The ODMP has been busy with the senseless passing of Americas Heroes! They are all in our thoughts and prayers as you are Drew! Thank you for all that you did. We love you! Until next time my friend.....

officer John Lane
McKinney Texas PD (former Suffolk Va PD)

May 14, 2006

As this special weekend where your name is dedicated on the wall comes and goes, I'm reminded of the tremendous sacrifice that you made. I miss you so much and everytime I talk on 1C I think of you. I miss having you there as my back-up. You were my security blanket. I often answer on 1C as you did always for me...teaching me and making me a better Officer. "Go Ahead"....remember..you always answered me like that. I'm so grateful to have the short time that we spent together on the street and I know that your looking down on us all and you are keeping us safe.
I saw Chrissy the other day when the riders came through on their way to the Memorial. It was great to see her and she and the kids looked great. I can't make it up this year because we are so short-handed on the street, but I know you understand. Thanks for being such a great friend and a great Police Officer. Always...Dave

Ptl David Wellford
Suffolk PD

May 12, 2006

Chrissy ~

I can't to meet you in DC, you and your boys. Although I feel like I know you already...

I, too, can't wait to see Jesse's name on the wall. I can't imagine the flood of emotions that will engulf us this weekend - from sadness and grief to pride, honor and gratitude. It's a little scary I think, and overwhelming. I've already decided that my kids and I are going to try to make Police Week and DC an annual event for our family. It's important, not just for us but for all the other families on this journey. We all have to stick together and hold each other up.

Have a safe trip, Chrissy, and I'll see you on Friday!

Much love, prayers, warm wishes and support,
~ Carin

May 9, 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 4, 2006

So guess what I did Tuesday night? Middle school orientation for Alex!!! I saw all the mom's and dad's sitting there together. Those are really hard times Drew. I thought we would do all these things together. I guess I am adjusting though. It seems to hurt less which is good. I still can't believe it's been almost 14 months since I have seen you. Still feels like yesterday. I am looking forward to next week. I want to see your name on the wall. Jeff already got to see it...no fair!! I am constantly reminded of how lucky you are. I meet people who are living with pain and suffering. I know you would never have wanted to live like that. I truly believe that you got to live your life the way you wanted to. I know how much you have meant to me in such a short time. I also know that without you I would not be who I am today. I am so grateful for that. You have given me confidence and strength and a belief in myself that I never had before. I still miss you everyday. The other day CJ had baseball practice. One of the coaches had on a Tshirt that said "Drew Baseball"... I have no idea what it meant, but it always seems like a message from you saying "I am still here"...I love you... always, me

May 4, 2006

"To the world you were one man, but to one man, you were the world."

Thanks for being my world.

I love you to the moon and back again.

Liz
Sister

April 26, 2006

As time goes by we realize the truth is clear
You will never be returned to us here
Each day we hope and dream
To no avail it seems
But Heros never really die
We hold them in our hearts up high
So today I will smile when I think of you
And know that you are smiling too

To all of you who visit this page, I know that I pour out my heart here..so this is for you...the love I have in my heart for you will never go away...no matter how far away you are...We are now and forever will be family...I can never thank you for the love and support you have shown me over the past year...I know you all say how strong I am, but I am not sure how true that would be if I did not have all of you standing there beside me...holding me up...holding my hand...holding my heart in yours...I hope that I have shown you the gratitude that I really do feel...I am sorry that I never sent out Thank you cards...it always seemed like such a depressing task...I never could bring myself to write them...It was like admitting that this was real...that Drew was gone...and that I was now alone...I know now that I am not alone...I have you guys...and you are the most amazing people I have ever know...So think of me and remember my laugh...loud and strong...and smile...as I do when I think of you...I love you all...and you know who you are!!!!!!!

Drew, I am not sure that I will ever be able to come here and write to you with out crying...I don't know if I will get to a time when I can go to where you are and not feel like something is missing inside of me...But I will try to be brave and strong...and I will try to hold on to you, Skyler and Austin...I miss you all so much...Alex and CJ miss you too.. some days they don't really know why they are sad, but they know that they are...They have lost the greatest Dad their ever was...you will always be their Dad...no matter what....I am trying really hard to forgive your promise, but that will take some time...I miss you everyday...I don't know how we got this far already...I hope that God has a special place for you there in Heaven...and I also hope you will save a spot for me near you...it may take a while, but I will be coming there for you....until then...stay with us...hold us...keep us safe...keep an eye on Lane...Suffolk will never be the same without him...I know you loved him as much as he loves you...we all love you... all my love, always, me

April 20, 2006

Drew, I was able to visit your grave the other day. I miss you my friend. I will visit again as soon as I am able to. It is still hard to believe that you are gone. Just remember that you are always in our thoughts and prayers. I just moved away from "Suffolk" Drew and I now reside in Texas, the same place I was at when I received the phone call about your incident. Please watch over us all!

Thank you Liz for coming to see me and taking me to the grave. I told you I would be back, it was great seeing you.....you are so missed. Chrissy, I hope to see you soon. I miss you and think of you often. I think you did a beautiful job on Drew's grave.

It still hurts Drew.....I hope you know and realize you have touched so many lives in the short time you were with us. Until next time my friend!

Officer J.M. Lane
McKinney Texas PD/Suffolk Virginia PD

April 19, 2006

Happy Easter, Henley family.

Thinking of you today and everyday. You are always in my thoughts and prayers.

I'll see you in a few weeks.

Carin

April 16, 2006

Hey baby...can you believe Skyler is 12 today...we always thought that was so far away....keep close to him Drew...he needs you now more than ever....make sure he remembers that I love him as much as you do...We all miss you very much baby...Love you with all my heart...me

April 7, 2006

"Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy."

I hope that's true. I hope you know and can see through the stars how loved you still are! I love you everyday with every once of my being. I miss you and want to hear your voice once more. I want to eat breakfast at Shoney's and hug you in the parking lot. I want you to wrestle me to the ground and throw me over your shoulder like a potato sack. I want to "sled" down some stairs in a sleeping bag and slam into the front door. You were such a wonderful big brother. I didn't tell you enough. I hope that you know how very much I looked up to you and love you.

And you know... Chrissy's right ... you did sleep a lot! :)

Mom put the most beautiful flowers in church in your honor on the 19th. She gave them to me to enjoy afterwards. You’re a constant in our lives.

Your friends haven't forgotten! John Lane's little boys are going to keep your name alive. Your friend's in Suffolk are going to always celebrate in your memory. Lawson will keep seeing your smiling face in all the pictures I have. Chrissy will always have a shrine. Mom will continue to buy flowers in your memory. And I will always have you close to Matt and my hearts.

Remember, I love you to the moon and back. I'll be seeing you in the stars!

Liz
Sister of Drew

March 31, 2006

Well hello Mr Henley...this is your wife here...I was just sitting here thinking about you, as I always do...I felt different this time...like we were about to have some crazy banter like we always did...maybe I was about to jump in your lap while you were sleeping in the chair...or pull the covers off of you while you were sleeping in the bed... see a pattern here? you sure did alot of sleeping!! I sure did alot of bugging!! But we had fun didn't we?? So here I am...and there you are...and I would give anything to be there, and you would give anything to be here...well, funny how things turn out...I am here waiting for you...I know you are there waiting for me...I love you Drew.. I am so proud of you...you are still my world baby...I love you...always, Mrs Henley...xoxooxxoox

March 22, 2006

To Officer Drew Henley, his wife and chldren, and his other loved ones:

On this the first anniversary week of your tragic death, please know that your memory is honored and revered today.

My heart goes out to your family. You’re in our thoughts and our prayers.
I hope that our paths cross in D.C.

Officer Henley, you rescued us, saved our possessions, our lives and our families. You are one of the rare heroes among us. You were always there for us in the most traumatic moments of our lives. No matter when we called, we just expected that you would come and do whatever it took to help us, and you always met our expectations. Your selflessness and dedication are awe-inspiring.

This world, this country, your community truly are better places because of you. To have lost you is a great tragedy, an irreplaceable, immeasurable loss for society. We are grateful for and to you, and honor you for all you did for us day in and day out whether you received a word of thanks or praise.

Rest in Peace, Officer Henley. I am humbled by your valor, courage, and dedication. I also salute your service in the Corps. My beloved son Larry is your brother in green as well as in blue. Semper Fi.

This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the distinquished service Drew gave to his community and the citizens of Virginia, and for the supreme sacrifice he and his family made on March 19, 2005.

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

March 20, 2006