Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

"Rain come down, come and heal these sores, wash them clean, come and heal my soul."

We pray that the rain of heaven will come down and heal our soul. That the God of the universe will touch and heal the broken hearts of those that are left behind!

Matt, you are gone but will never be forgotten!

February 15, 2006

Happy Valentines Day babe!! You'll always be my Valentine. I love You!!

February 14, 2006

I am so very sorry for all the grief that Matt's family and fiance are going through. There is nothing anyone can really do, just be there, listen, soothe with the promise of seeing Matt once again in God's heaven. And pray...pray to the Lord that they are given the strength to go on.
Please let us all pray for these wonderful people who lost so much.
With love for Christ..we pray.
A concerned believer.

February 11, 2006

Poems about Matt Redding
Current mood: lonely



Where'd you go?
I miss you so,
Seems like it's been forever,
That you've been gone.

I said "Some days I feel like shit,
Some days I wanna quit, and just be normal for a bit,"
I don't understand why your gone,
I get along but the days always feel so long,
And, I find myself staying by the phone,
Thinking your gonna call me when I feel so alone,
But I feel like an idiot, cuz I know you cant call,
So I just sit and listen to the old voice recordings you left me,
and wonder why you had to go?"

I miss you so,
Seems like it's been forever,
That you've been gone.
Where'd you go?
I miss you so,
Seems like it's been forever,
That you've been gone,
Please come back home...

You know the place where you used to live,
Used to barbeque up burgers and ribs,
Used to rent movies and cuddle on the couch,
But now, your gone and I find myself just fillin' my time,
Anything to keep the thought of you from my mind,
cuz it hurts too bad to think of what we could of had,
I catch myself sayin,
Dear God, I want you to know it's a little fucked up,
That I'm stuck here waitin', not knowing why,
why things had to be this way,
I just wanna know why he had to go?"

I miss you so,
Seems like it's been forever,
That you've been gone.
Where'd you go?
I miss you so,
Seems like it's been forever,
That you've been gone,
Please come back home...

I want you to know it's a little messed up,
That I'm stuck here waitin', my life twistin,
Tired of hurtin' and hatin' and makin' lame excuses,
Why you had to go

Im feeling so useless, cuz theres nothin I can do

To bring you back to me
It seems one thing has been true all along,
You don't really know what you got 'til it's gone,
And now Im sayin

Where'd you go?
I miss you so,
Seems like it's been forever,
That you've been gone.
Where'd you go?
I miss you so,
Seems like it's been forever,
That you've been gone,
Please come back home...
Please come back home...
Please come back home...
Please come back home...
Please come back home...


I'll always love you. Can't wait to see u again!!
~Jess

February 11, 2006

So many lovely memories, So many lovely times, the feel of your big strong hands always protecting me. You have installed so much that I will carry on through out my life, and because of you I am who I am today. How many dances did we dance all night? What I would give just for one more. I wish I had one more day to say it all. To sing you my good morning sunshine song. To just stare at you big smile. I still have your mom whom I look at as my own mother. I will get your love through her. You rest now you so deserve it, you’ve taken care of everybody your whole life now you enjoy your palace in heaven.

love you,
Cutie Pie!!

February 8, 2006

Jessica... I'm with you in spirit today and thinking of you always. Your strength inspires me and I know Matt has asked God to keep sending you more of that strength.

God bless and from one police girl to another, we love you!
Samantha, KY

February 4, 2006

In all your pictures and reflections, I see your light that shined so brightly... You were so loved and you will surely not be forgotten. I just wanted to leave a message because I was thinking of you today. I know you're having a blast in Heaven.

January 31, 2006

You lived, you were loved and you loved. Jesus needed you..there is no other answer. Glorify the sky..you always loved adventure. Somehow , if you can, send a sign to your Daddy, Mom,., Mark, Jessica, Lisa and Arthur that you are at peace and still love from afar. Please..they need it so very much.
With all our love...A family that cares

January 31, 2006

And if I go,
While you are still here...
Know that I live on, vibrating to a different measure,
behind a thin veil, you cannot see through.
You will not see me, so you must have faith.
I wait for the time when we can be together again, both aware of each other.
Until then, live life to the fullest, and just when you need me, just whisper my name in your heart....I will always be there.

January 27, 2006

The Heart

"Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began,
"I'll open up your heart..."


"You'll find Jesus there," the boy
interrupted.


The surgeon looked up, annoyed "I'll
cut your heart open," he continued,
to see how much damage has been
done..."



"But when you open up my heart, you'll
find Jesus in there," said the boy.


The surgeon looked to the parents, who
sat quietly. "When I see how much
damage has been done, I'll sew your
heart and chest back up, and I'll plan
what to do next."



"But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The
Bible says He lives there. The
hymns all say He lives there. You'll
find Him in my heart."


The surgeon had had enough. "I'll tell
you what I'll find in your heart.
I'll find damaged muscle, low blood
supply, and weakened vessels.
And I'll find out if I can make you well."




"You'll find Jesus there too. He lives
there."




The surgeon left.

The surgeon sat in his office, recording his
notes from the surgery, "...damaged aorta, damaged
pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration.
No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy:
painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:, "
here he paused, "death within one year."



He stopped the recorder, but there was
more to be said. "Why?" he asked aloud.
"Why did You do this? You've put
him here; You've put him in this pain; and
You've cursed him to an early death. Why?"



The Lord answered and said, "The boy,
My lamb, was not meant for your

flock for long, for he is a part of My
flock, and will forever be.
Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and
will be comforted as you cannot imagine.
His parents will one day join him here,
and they will know peace, and
My flock will continue to grow."



The surgeon's tears were hot, but his
anger was hotter. "You created that
boy, and You created that heart. He'll
be dead in months. Why?"
The Lord answered, "The boy, My lamb,
shall return to My flock, for He has
Done his duty: I did not put My lamb
with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another
lost lamb."



The surgeon wept.. The surgeon sat
beside the boy's bed; the boy's
parents sat across from him. The boy awoke and
whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?"
"Yes," said the surgeon.
"What did you find?" asked the boy.
"I found Jesus there," said the
surgeon.



Author Unknown


Thinking of you babe!!!

January 16, 2006

Dearest Jessica...You are filled with love for the Lord. It is no wonder that Matt, who so believed in the Lord as well, loves you so very much. You chose each other...a match made in Heaven..it lasts for eternity.

B

January 15, 2006

“Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well."


Love you babe.

January 15, 2006

We ask for the Lord to comfort the hearts of the Redding Family, Jessica and her family as well. While Matt was here he was a wonderful human being and now he is with his hero, Jesus. How we miss him!

January 14, 2006

I know your sending extra hugs to your fiancee from Heaven. Maybe send her even more on Valentine's Day... I know it would make her feel so much better. Just hold her hand a little tighter and send a reminder that you'll always be here and we'll never forget

LEO Fiancee and friend of Peter Grignon EOW 3/23/05

January 14, 2006

To my son in the faith. It has been two months and 29 days since you have gone home to be with the Lord. Since then, many of your follow officers have given their lives in duty as well, but I guess you would already know that. We miss you, think and talk about you at times as if you are still here. Be it not for the Grace of God, the hope of eternal life, and the anticipation of seeing you again, the weight would be unbearable. Your parents suffer so, not being able to fine this present hope and comfort. I can't seem to help them, I seem to put my foot in my mouth every time I try to encourage them. In my heart, if you can't be here with us, then I would want you with the Lord, and I am comforted knowing that my son is in my Father's presence, rejoicing, happy and well cared for. Much better than I could ever do. At times it doesn't feel as though you are gone so close do I sense your presence. I think Jessica feels the same way, Lisa misses you, and Amber seems to be ok. In dedicating your Bible I wrote several things all answered now. The last paragraph goes like this," Rise to the calling of righteousness and bow not to the ways of self and complacency, yield your ways to the King, so the King can mold you into His son." Well, your there now, something that I have longed for my whole life. May you ever increase in the Wonder and Awe of God, Amen.

January 7, 2006

Happy New Year Babe!! I love you!!!

January 5, 2006

happy new year pepperoni boy!! YEA BOY!

January 4, 2006

As the days go by I think of Matt so often. I pray that his parents, brother and Jessica are being comforted by all the kind words people say about Matt. I think about what he wrote "of that place where he went that he could touch the hand of God. The perfect world". And I cry..tears for the loss that is felt by so many. But something always brings a sense of peace..knowing that Matt was one with the Lord and lives with Him now. Still, we are human and miss someone so abruptly taken. Let the words that Matt wrote about his belief in "a place where everything is perfect" soothe us.
We love you Matt.

January 3, 2006

Happy New Year Matt!!

January 1, 2006

i don't really remember you as an officer...actually, i remember you as my brother's good friend. i remember when you two were in high school and had a party at my house when my parents were gone, that was awesome. you have always been and always will be remembered in my family as a hero, and a friend. i know with all of my heart that you are watching over all of us in heaven with the angels. we will all see you again one day.

-lisa erwin-

December 29, 2005

Together will be
Not a moment apart
For you are living
right here in my heart.


Matt
It's wierd how God brings people into my life. YesterdY, at work, a lady with her husband sat in my section. She told me that she could see you all around me and that your watching over me. This I already knew, but I cried because I was so comforted by her words. I want to say "thank you" babe for loving me and STILL being here for me. I feel your presence everyday and that's what keeps me going strong. I can almost still feel your hand holding mine and your arms around me. It's so hard living everyday without seeing you. You were my everything- and you knew that. Today is Chistmas and it's so difficult to get through without you. I am trying my best to be strong, but it's just so hard. So now I'll continue to hold on to the wonderful memories we shared and the hope of seeing you again in heaven. How I can't wait!! I feel that I am so lucky to have had the chance to love this much. I am truely grateful to God that he blessed me with his grace.


Merry Christmas babe!! I'll love you forever.

Your Pumpkin,
Jessica

December 25, 2005

Merry Christmas Matt! You are gone but not forgotten. Thank you for shining your light for us. You are loved and missed!

December 25, 2005

Merry Christmas Matt! Please give some comfort to your family and Jessica today. We miss you!

December 25, 2005

My heart goes out to your family. Matt, take a moment from the celebration in heaven today to send them and Jessica a little comfort. I know how hard it is to celebrate the holidays without the one you love. I'm telling my Scott to find you in heaven. I hope you have a great time swapping stories and talking about your girls.

To Matt's family,
I'm so sorry you have to spend the holiday and everyday without him. I hope God and Matt will send you little rays of sunshine to help you.

Jessica,
I too lost my fiancee on-duty. I understand. I am sending you big hugs and vibes of comfort from the mid-west. I hope Scott and Matt find each other tonight and are celebrating God's gift for man together. If you want, you can reach me anytime monmidg at either yahoo or hotmail.

May all of you try to find a smile for Matt today and everyday... you might have tears in your eyes, but smile for him... he'd would want to see the smile more than the tears.

Big Hugs,
Much Love,
Monica
Fiancee Scott Stewart EOW 8-11-02 Detroit

December 24, 2005

Nearly a year to the day before his tragic death, Matt was the arresting officer when my 8-year-old son was killed by a hit-and-run drunk driver as we rode bicycles home from his baseball game. Although Matt attended my son's funeral service, I did not know the impact our own tragedy had on him until I met his parents a day before Matt's funeral. His father John told me Matt shed tears that day. More than just a job to him, Matt had a passion for catching drunk drivers and real compassion for their victims. It is the ultimate irony that he be taken by this epidemic.

We share many friends and brushed by each other in the past, but it is my sincere regret that I never formally met Matt. It's clear he was a very special person and all that knew him are better for it. I will never forget him and will continue to say "hi" and pay my respects when I visit my son, since their bodies rest just a few steps apart. Their souls however, are together.

December 21, 2005