Photo by Mary Frank, staff photographer, Asbury Park Press.May 20, 2014.
Police Memorial. By Mary Frank, Asbury Park Press.
May 20, 2014.
By Gail Lake Jordan (special to Blogfinger)
The entire program was nothing short of wonderful…. There we’re hundreds of law enforcement personal in attendance, and a substantial number of civilians and other interested people. West Windsor-Plainsboro Choirs filled the entire choir lofts; their voice were inspiring. They sang two songs, “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Danny Boy”.
Officer Tyron McAllister (Asbury Park) sang “The National Anthem” and “You Raise Me Up”—-Officer Michelle Hollins (Florence township) sang “Heaven was needing a Hero” and “Amazing Grace the Policeman’s Tribute,” and Trooper Thomas Cavallo (NJSP) sang “God Bless America”… If you didn’t have tears in your eyes by then, you only needed to hear the New Jersey United Pipe Band play “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes…
The speakers were numerous and eloquent. There was The Honorable John Jay Hoffman Attorney General, Madeline Neumann National President, Concerns of Police Survivors, and various heads of law Enforcement from, FBI to US Marshalls to DEA as well as many fraternal organizations from across the State. Governor Chris Christie was not present.
As with all memorials, there are chairs shrouded in black with the names of all officers who died in the line of duty from 1854 to 2013 in the State of New Jersey.. There were over 400 chairs. On either side of the choir loft there was a large screen where names and pictures of the fallen officers were shown.
This is the thirtieth anniversary of the New Jersey Law Enforcement Memorial. Somewhere around the 10 year mark (with a big thanks to retired Police Chief Howard O’Neil) the memorial was moved from the Garden State Arts Center to Ocean Grove.
I am happy to report that in the last two years not one police officer died in the line of duty in New Jersey. How wonderful it would be if we could say that about every state.
For myself personally this Memorial brings not only respect to those fallen officers but a much needed reminder to all just how quickly a man or woman can put the badge on and leave home for their job—-never to go home again. For me and so many others it doesn’t matter the amount of time that has passed since last we saw those that we love. What helps and helps immensely is that they are “remembered.”
Editor’s note: Gail Lake Jordan, from Ocean Grove, lost her father, Ocean Grove Chief of Police David John Lake, in 1971 when he was murdered in the line of duty.
FROM THE FILM MILLER’S CROSSING: “Danny Boy.”
There was no officers who died in the line of duty last year… This is the second time in 30 years that has happened. We will pray it stays that way…. Thank you Howard O’Neil for getting back to me so quickly and good heads up “new kid”….
As I recall I attended last year’s service, Governor Christie, keynote speaker, and we memorialized 3 additional officers.
Very nice article by Ms. Jordan. Thank you Finger for giving it such good coverage.
As always the memorial was touching and beautifully done.
Correction: This was only the second year an officer was not lost in the line of duty, not the second year in a row.