Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Matthew:

You would have been proud of me and Susan tonight!

Love you always,

Mom

Jane Melchionda
Matthew's Mom

March 25, 2011

Matt, yesterday was difficult. I spent most of the day with Mary Mel and Aunt Patti. No words can describe how badly your missed. Son, you are always with me in the deepest part of my heart. Life is just not the same without you.

Jim Melchionda
Matt's Dad

March 9, 2011

Wow, can't believe it has been 5 years. Seems like yesterday. Strange how I can remember where I was and what I was doing when I got the call. RIP Brother, you are missed!

Lt. Steve Spolarich
Bound Brook PD

March 8, 2011

You are in my thoughts today Matty. Over and over I hear "LIZBET!" with that large boisterous voice and a smile and great big bear hug to follow. Today I will celebrate your life Matt. You always looked after me and I will never forget that and feel fortunate to have had you in my life at all. You saught to make people laugh and smile. Today, I am smiling and thinking of you because you touched my life in such a positive way and I am lucky enough to say that you continue to touch my life through the love and compassion that is held in your mother and brother.

Elizabeth Berenger Startzel
Friend

March 8, 2011

Remembering you on this sad day. You are still very much remembered and you live on in the stories told by those that still feel the loss.

jason

March 7, 2011

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate the beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Matthew: The words of RWE so powerful in their simplicity. Your life, although much too short, was a success. You reached every goal you set for yourself and endeared so many people along the way. I am proud of you and your accomplishments. Who knows, if given the luxury of more years, what heights you could have attained and perhaps, the healthy child.

So many of your friends and family are missing you. I have been contacted by many who have honored you with wonderful writings. They are sad not to have you in their midst, none more than I. I love you with all my heart.

MOM
xxxxx's ooooo's

Jane Melchionda
Mother of Fallen Officer Matthew Melchionda

March 7, 2011

Matt:

Missing you today, and always. It seems impossible that 5 years have passed. You left an indelible mark on all who had the pleasure of knowing you. You were truly wise beyond your years, yet you could be as silly as the next guy. You are missed by family and friends and we will never forget you. xoxoxo

Laura Avalos
sister in law

March 7, 2011

Miss you!!!!

Officer Jeanne-Marie Mocarski

February 27, 2011

Matthew, Matthew, Matthew, I miss you and think about you all the time with love and loss.

Jane Melchionda
Mother of Fallen Officer Matthew Melchionda

February 1, 2011

Merry Christmas, my friend. Heading back to the road again soon. I miss your company and humor to make things interesting! I also miss the occasional snowball that just happened to make it in my car window. Yeah- oops! Miss you.

Officer Jeanne-Marie Mocarski
Friend

December 27, 2010

Dear Matthew: Another Christmas without you. This is number five. It seems like yesterday but then it seems like forever since that day that changed our lives forever. Thank you for being such a great son and giving me so many moments to remember. The sadness comes from knowing I will never hear your voice, you laugh, see your face or feel your kiss on my cheek,never see your hair turn gray ~ so many many things about you I am missing.
I love you, Matthew, with all my heart.

Mom

Jane Melchionda
Matthew's Mom

December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas to you and all of your loved ones. Let them feel your presence while they tell those treasured Christmas' past stories about you at the dinner table. You will never be forgotten.

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

December 24, 2010

Matthew:

You are ALWAYS on my mind, in my thoughts, and FOREVER IN MY HEART. We will remember you as we gather tomorrow. Missing you and that big laugh of yours with such an ache in my heart. The silence is deafening. I too wish I could dial HEAVEN!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Matthew's Mom

November 24, 2010

"If there be any truer measure of a man than by what he does, it must be by what he gives." ~ Robert South

Officer Jeanne-Marie Mocarski
BHPD

November 18, 2010

I miss you. I wish I could dial heaven. I am so thankful for the friendship we had.

Officer Jeanne-Marie Mocarski
BHPD

November 4, 2010

Four and one-half years of tears.....

XOXOXO

Jane Melchionda
Mommy

September 8, 2010

Matthew:

There are those in this world who will never know the excruciating pain of such a great loss as the loss of a child. Most will go through life relying on the comforting thought that tomorrow will come just like any other day has come and gone not realizing that in the blink of an eye, one's life can be irreversibly altered never to be the same ever again. Not that I didn't for one second cherish and treasure every moment of your life or Dave's but now there is added importance on each smile, word, hug, and kiss.

I miss you and love you with all my heart.

Mom
XOXOXOXO

Jane Melchionda
Matthew's Mom

August 24, 2010

We never met, but I know you. I am a friend of your Mom, and it is impossible to know her without knowing her Matthew. So when I came upon this recently, I couldn't help but think of you:

Not: How did he die? But: How did he live?
Not: What did he gain? But: What did he give?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
Not: What was his station? But: Had he a heart?
And: How did he play his God-given part?
Was he ever ready with a word of good cheer,
To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not: What was his shrine? Nor: What was his creed?
But: Had he befriended those really in need?
Not: What did the sketch in the newspaper say?
But: How many were sorry when he passed away?
--"The Measure of Man" (Anonymous)

There are a lot of sorry people down here, Matt.

Andrew

August 5, 2010

I borrowed this from a dear friend who suffered a loss.

Remember Me
To the living, I am gone
To the sorrowful, I will never return
To the angry, I was cheated

But to the happy, I am at peace
And to the faithful, I have never left

I cannot speak, but I can listen
I cannot be seen, but I can be heard
So as you stand upon a shore,
Gazing at the beautiful sea, remember me.

As you look in awe at a mighty forest
And its grand majesty, remember me.

As you look upon a flower and admire
Its simplicity, remember me.

Remember me in your heart, your thoughts,
And your memories. Of the times we loved,
The times we fought, the times we laughed.

For if you always think of me,
I will never have gone.

I do remember you, Matthew, and think of you always. I miss you so.

With all my love,
Mom
XOXOXOXOXO

Jane Melchionda
Matthew's mom

July 29, 2010

You and all of your family and friends are in my thoughts on this holiday which you helped protect and preserve. Hero’s like you will never be forgotten.

James Sheppard
Father of Sgt. Jason L. Sheppard EOW 12/7/06

July 4, 2010

Matthew:

I just know you are watching over those you love. Words cannot describe how much you are missed and loved.

With all my heart, Mom XOXOXO

Jane Melchionda
Matthew's Mom

June 17, 2010

My Dearest Matthew:

Dad and I came to be with you today. Dad did some edging and I did some plantings of geraniums and marigolds (if only the deer wouldn't eat them). It looked beautiful when we finished. Our hearts are heavy with the ache of missing you.

Forever in my heart, Mom

Jane Melchionda
Matthew's Mom

May 26, 2010

You and all of your loved ones are in my thoughts on this special day, Police Officer Memorial Day. Continue to watch over all of them as they carry that special love and memories of you in their broken hearts. You will never be forgotten. Someone sent me this quote and I'd like to leave it for your Mom as I know what she feels every day without you here:

"The sense of loss does not diminish with time. In truth, the expression 'time heals all wounds' is a myth. For parents, the loss of a child is permanent and mental scar tissue really does not grow over the grim memory. Rather, all tears are expended and a dull ache remains."

You will never be forgotten.

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

May 15, 2010

Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom, I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom - I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom - I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known The Warmth, The Joy, The Love, The Heartache, The Wonderment or the Satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

In my thoughts always but especially on Mother's Day.

I Love You,

Mom

Jane Melchionda
Matthew's Mom

May 8, 2010

MY VISIT WITH YOU TODAY
Some blades of grass twisted together
and wound around at the ends
Through my tears I saw them
and wondered what message it sends
Not knowing who, I paused for a stay
and suddenly those twisted blades
Took my tears away

Jane Melchionda
Matthew's Mom

April 13, 2010