Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

We little knew that day, God was going to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same.
You did not go alone,
for part of us went with you the day God called you home.
You left us beautiful memories, your love is still our guide;
tho' we cannot see you, you are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken, nothing seems the same,
but God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.

December 19, 2006

Officer Melchionda,

Your legacy inspires myself and the rest of my police class at Somerset County Police Academy (class 37-06). When we read your name every day during the morning colors ceremony, it reminds us of your courage and pride. Everyone at the department has so much good to say about you. I would have been honored to work with you.

Rest in peace,

Brian Smith
Recruit, Watchung Police Department
Somerset County Police Academy Class # 37-06

Rct. Brian Smith
Watchung P.D.

December 3, 2006

Matt, I am very blessed to have met and become friends with your wife. She is so very sweet and I hate to see her go through what she is. Life down here isnt always easy for her but I know you are with her in her heart every step of the way. Love Denise

Denise Zimmerman
Wife of NJ State Trooper Bert Zimmerman EOW 2-5-04

October 29, 2006

HI, when you died everyone asked me if you were my family. My last name is Melchionda, too. We are family even though we never met. My aunt thought about sending a care package. We are 3rd cousins. You are my dad's 2nd cousin.

Melchionda
Dad is your 2nd cousin

October 2, 2006

HI, My dad is Matthew's 2nd cousins. They never met but we knew he was our family. My name is Lisa. I have the same last name as him.

Lisa
2 cousin

October 2, 2006

Safely Home
by Unknown

I am home in Heaven, dear ones;
Oh, so happy and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over,
Every restless tossing passed;
I am now at peace forever,
Safely home in Heaven at last.

So you must not grieve so sorely,
For I love you dearly still;
Try to look beyond earth's shadows,
Pray to trust our Father's Will.

There is work still waiting for you,
So you must not idly stand;
Do it now, while life remaineth--
You shall rest in Jesus' land.

When that work is all completed,
He will gently call you Home;
Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
Oh, the joy to see you come!

Anonymous
friend of family

October 2, 2006

Hi my last name is Melchionda too. My dad is his 3rd cousin.

Lisa
my dad is his 3rd cousin

September 19, 2006

Wise men say only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay
Would it be a sin
If I can't help falling in love with you
Live a river flows surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you
Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you
For I can't help falling in love with you

Dear Mattie,
One year ago today, we danced to our song on our perfect wedding day and it was the happiest day of my life. I am going to spend today with you at the cemetary. I made you your favorite, veal parm and I'm bringing our favorite wine, Concannon. Neither of us could have imagined that this is how we'd be spending our first anniversary. We had so many things to look forward to for the rest of our lives together. I want you to know that I love you more than anything and I always will. You will always be my one true love. I love you my Mattie. Happy 1st anniversary.
Love Always,
Lynn xoxoxo

Lynn Melchionda
Wife of Officer Matthew Melchionda; EOW 3-8-06

September 17, 2006

Lynn,
I know how hard tomorrow will be for you, what would have been your 1st wedding anniversary on September 17. I know all too well how difficult it is to celebrate that first wedding anniversary alone. Its just not fair. I did everything that Bert and I had planned except I did it by myself. We saved a bottle of wine (and a bottle of beer for him haha) from our honeymoon and we were going to drink that while eating a piece of our wedding cake together. We had always said we'd renew our wedding vows on the beach where we went for our honeymoon. Instead, I drank the wine, ate a bit of cake for him and a bite for me, played our wedding song, and went to see him at the cemetary. I hope that you are able to do what you feel is right on that day. Whether you decide to spend it alone or around family and friends or with Matt at the cemetary, do what YOU want and whatever will make you feel better. I just want you to know that you are not alone. You know you can call me if you need me tomorrow and that I am always going to be here for you. You are such a wonderful person and I thank Matt and Bert for bringing us together. We have that special bond and I know we will be friends for life. Keep your chin up tomorrow and know that I will be thinking about you and Matt on your beautiful wedding day. I love ya Lynn.
Love, Denise

Denise Zimmerman
Wife of NJ State Trooper Bert Zimmerman EOW 2-5-04

September 16, 2006

To Lynn and the family of Matt, although we here at Watchung PD may not get to talk to you all much, please know that we think of Matt all the time and miss him so much. And we also keep his family and friends in our thoughts. Just as you have lost a husband, uncle, nephew, etc. in Matty, we have all lost him as our brother. We will always remember him and please don't ever hesitate to call on us if we can help you in any way.
Sincerely,

Officer
Watchung Police Department
PBA local #193

Watchung Police Dept

September 9, 2006

Matt, I know it's 6 months today that you were taken from those who loved and knew you most and best... I know your department still struggles. I know your wife still feels broken. I only pray that God sends extra love and hugs to your wife in this time of her greatest need. It makes me feel pure joy to know that my friend, peter, welcomed you into Heaven with open arms and maybe even showed you around a bit. That was definitely his personality. I can imagine that you can all play cops & robbers in heaven the way you did as children, with no pain and no loss, just the pure fun.

My thoughts and prayers will ALWAYS be with your wife, family, friends, and coworkers when I kiss my LEO goodbye everyday. I am more grateful for everyday because of the reminders through the pages of this site. I only hope God will comfort Lynn as he has comforted Becca. It has been a year and 1/2 for us, but its still so very fresh, and therfore I know how fresh and deep and painful it is for your Lynn. God bless you and thank you for being willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for your community, and your country. Say hi to Pete for me?

LEO Fiancee and friend of Peter Grignon EOW 3/23/05
(http://officer-peter-grignon.memory-of.com/About.aspx)

September 8, 2006

Matt,

It is with the deepest emotion that we reflect upon today, 9.8.06, marking six months of your untimely death. We think of you everyday and reflect on what you gave to us, what you taught us and most of all the unconditional friendship that was forged. We look back on all the times we shared and unfortunately see the times we will no longer get to share with you. I thank god for everyday we did have with you and what we now have with Lynn. Words cannot describe the sorrow that we all feel and emptiness that now fills our hearts. Lynn is now forever our sister and you will forever be our brother. I hope you are at peace, watching over us, protecting us. We miss you Mattie. Rest in peace..

"I awoke this morning with profound thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new." - R.W. Emerson

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." - R.W. Emerson

Louis and Jackie
Friends

September 8, 2006

Sir, I honor your service and your sacrifice. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9.

Daniel
Citizen

August 29, 2006

Matt-
Through challenge there is hope, through heartbreak there is wisdom, through pain there is strength. You were the best thing to happen to Lynn and although this is harder for her than any of us can imagine...we are here to support her every way that we can. Thank you for living your life to the fullest- you are admired and appreciated by all who knew you.

Katie Holterman
Friend of Lynn Melchionda

August 13, 2006

Dear Lynn,

It is with profound awe and respect that I read your words of comfort as I visit the reflection pages of other fallen brothers. Although my heart aches for you knowing the incredible pain and lonliness you are feeling, I am touched by the way you and other surviving women open your arms to the most recent hearts broken by these horrible losses. Your husband committed his life to helping others. The fact that you are carrying on his work and sharing the burdens of others shows me Matthew has never left you. He lives through what you do and is so VERY proud of you. You are a reflection of your husband that will never dim, and from the bottom of our hearts, from all of us in law enforcement, God bless you and thank you.

Det. Kris Kisatsky
Long Hill PD, NJ

August 12, 2006

I would say to those who mourn...look upon each day that comes as a challenge - as a test of courage. The pain will come in waves, some days worse than others, for no apparent reason. Accept the pain. Do not suppress it. Never attempt to hide grief from yourself. Little by little, just as the deaf, the blind, the handicapped develop with time an extra sense to balance disability, so the bereaved, the widowed, will find new strength, new vision, born of the very pain and loneliness which seems, at first, impossible to master. - Daphne Du Maurier

Anonymous

August 11, 2006

Dear Mattie,
It's still so hard every day without you. I miss you so much..I don't know if this is ever going to get any easier. You brought so much happiness to my life and to so many others. You have no idea how many lives you impacted by being here. There is a hole in all of us that can never be filled. It's hard to believe it's been 5 months since that awful day. I remember vividly our last conversation like it was yesterday...and both of us had no idea that it would be our last one. I have to just pray that you are at peace and that we will be together again one day. Please watch over all of us here and help us get through this. I love you and miss you with all of my heart and soul.
Love your wife,
Lynn

Lynn Melchionda
Surviving Spouse of Officer Matthew Melchionda

August 9, 2006

Peace be with you always...

Mrs. Natalie Jensen
wife of Detective Jared Jensen EOW 2/22/06

July 15, 2006

Hey Matty,
Words can't express how much we miss you. You were an amazing friend to both Louis and I. You always made us laugh and always brought sunshine to every room you were in. I can't thank you enough for how much you have taught us and brought to our lives. We all love you so much and miss you tremendoudly. You will never be forgotten as a piece of you has been/ and will always be shining through us and within us.
When you meet my father, give him a huge hug and tell him that I love him with all my heart. He was a great father, husband, and friend, and now I can say he will have met one of the best I have ever known.
Miss and love you always and forever,
Jackie

Friend

June 27, 2006

Talk - "Oh brother I can't, I can't get through - I've been trying hard to reach you ´cause I don't know what to do - Oh brother I can't believe its true - I'm so scared about the future and I want to talk to you"

Matty, we miss you terribly and think about you everyday. The above song lyrics truly reflect how I, as well as many others surely feel. I hope you are at peace wherever you are. Please watch over us and guide us through these troubling times. "A true friend divides our sorrows and multiplies our joys." You were a true friend to so many. Good bye my brother, my friend, rest in peace.

Your friend,
Louis

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
Isaiah 6:8

"My Buddy" Louis
Friend

June 27, 2006

Officer Melchionda,

God Bless You and Thank you for your Service with the Watchung Police Department. You made the Ultimate Sacrifice.

Correctional Officer
California Department Of Corrections

June 25, 2006

On behalf of the members of P.B.A. Local # 356, we would like to offer our deepest condolences to the Family, Friends and Watchung Police Department.

Matthew's watch is complete. May his soul Rest In Peace and in the safe hands of Almighty God.

Fraternally,
Bob Hughes

NJ State PBA Delegate
NJ Gaming Enforcement P.B.A. Local # 356

June 13, 2006

Officer Melchionda rest in peace. Police officers are the angles on the roads and I thank you for all that you have done.My condolences for your family.

Victorella

June 7, 2006

I come to the ODMP often to remember my late fiancé Dennis. Everytime I come here it breaks my heart to know that yet another officer has fallen and that yet another family has to live their lives without the man they loved. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved Officer Melchionda, especially to his wife. Know that you are not alone in the "journey" that you walk. Should you ever need anything please don't hesitate to contact me. The Davis Co. Sheriff's Office in Iowa will always know how to reach me. You will be in my thoughts.

From reading all the reflections left for Matthew, he sounds like he was a great man with a beautiful spirit. Those of you who knew him in life were so blessed to have been able to share in it. I hope that you will all continue to find a way to celebrate and remember Matthew's life and the MAN that he was. Remember that Matthew's life was about so much more than the way he died. Matthew will continue to live on as long as we continue to remember him.

Officer Melchionda, thank you for helping to make this world a little safer for us all. YOU will not be forgotten. Please continue to watch over all of us as only you can. If you happen to bump into my fiancé Dennis up there give him a big hug for me and the kids. It's been three years but we still miss him terribly.

Wishing you brighter and better days,


Jocelyne :)

"Forever Remembering 26-3"

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

June 7, 2006

Dear Matt,
It's Memorial Day weekend and I want you to know how much I love you, miss you, and think of you every second of every day. March 8, 2006 was the absolute worst day of my life when you were taken. Somehow you have given me the strength to get through these last 2 1/2 months. I will continue to try to be as strong as I possibly can. I still cannot imagine how my life will be without you. I think about all of our plans that we had for our life together and it's just so unfair that our future together has been taken away. People tell me that time heals; but unfortunately it just makes it more real. I miss you Mattie; everything about you. Everyday when I wake up, I still think you are here. I am so blessed to have had you in my life and I will always cherish and remember every minute we were together. Thank you for giving me the happiest days of my life. I promise that I will continue to do everything possible to keep your memory alive and celebrate you every way I can. You will always be my hero and I love you with all of my heart. XOXO
Love your wife,
Lynn

Lynn Melchionda
Surviving Spouse of Officer Matthew Melchionda; EOW 3-8-06

May 27, 2006