 | |  | Trooper Milton Veasily Purnell Jr.
Maryland State Police
Maryland
Thursday, May 29, 1975 |
Rest in peace. Boomer
2008-05-29
"The Badge"
He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.
He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.
Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.
He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.
His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.
He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.
And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.
But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.
Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.
Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.
So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.
In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.
Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.
Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC
2008-02-18
You will always be remembered for your sacrifice. Cpl/1 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police
2007-05-29
miss you Milt,thanks for all Sgt.Ret.Vaughn Foreman
MSP
2007-01-29
Tpr. Purnell, I learned about you today from one of your relatives, who is also now a Police Officer. Your family still holds you very dear to their hearts and souls. You are still very much a part of their lives. It is so sad that your time had to be cut so short. God Bless you Brother Purnell. You are in eternal peace!
DFC. Matt Crisafulli
Worcester County Sheriffs Office
2005-03-10
~~~~~The Broken Chain~~~~~
We little knew that morning that God was going to call your name.~~In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same.~~It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone; for part of us went with you, the day God called you home.~~You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide; and though we cannot see you, you are always at our side.~~Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same; but as God calls us one by one, the Chain will link again.
2005-01-23
~~~The Final Goodbye~~~
It's been a while since you've been gone,
Guess I always hoped, deep inside,
that the facts weren’t true and someone lied, and instead of goodbye,
I would be saying hello to you.
Now my life carries on without you,
though I can't say that is so,
because each and every day
you fill my thoughts and dreams
and most things I do lately,
involve you it seems,
So how can it be that this is goodbye?
There are so many things we have to share,
So many plans to be made,
I turn to call you, I want to know you are home, but you're not there, you've already gone.
I’m not ready to say goodbye.
Some say that it's time to move on,
I know they are not wrong.
I move on, but I take you along.
I'm not ready yet,
to say goodbye.
It's been so hard to say goodbye,
and every time I try, I cry.
I just cant bring myself to believe,
that this is the final goodbye.
2005-01-22
Although you were only a Trooper for a short time, your service made a difference. Thank you Trooper Purnell. Officer
Montgomery County, Maryland
2004-12-25
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