Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Linda and family, sorry I missed his anniversary. Your words express so much how we all feel about our precious sons.
Thinking of you today.
Lorraine Bond

Anonymous

October 2, 2009

Matt,

I too, watched the video of you yesterday, and I am not ashamed to admit tears ran down my face. Brother, you are missedby everyone fortunate enough to know you, and by people that only know you by heaing a Matt story. Sometimes I wonder if I would still be in law enforcement if your accident had not happened. Life changes, for the good and the bad. You are not forgotten.

Former LEO

September 17, 2009

Matthew, as i think about what "today" really means to those of us left behind, i can't help but think about all of the lives you impacted. Though 5 years is a long time, it is really short too. My respect for you continues to grow, and i miss you so much. I miss the times we had and can not wait to see you again. Stay safe and please watch over the rest of us!
Love you brother.

Mark Steinmann
Crossville Police Department

September 17, 2009

Thinking about you and your family today. Its been five years that seem like yesterday and yet so far away. The years are going by quickly and the time is short. I pray your family continue to live in strength until they see you again.

Carol Espinoza

September 17, 2009

Linda, your words to Matt always leave me feeling the strong bond we surviving mothers have for who else can truly understand the loss, the longing, the enormity of our heartbreak and of our love for our cherished beloved children. As always, we may be many miles apart but you and yours are forever in my heart's embrace.

Matt, your memory is honored and revered today and always. Rest in Peace.

Anonymous

September 16, 2009

Matt -
We still have not forgotten you or your wonderful personality. We bring up "funny Matt stories" all the time. We ty to love your family enough to make the heart ache go away, but we all know that is not possible. Hopefully we make it bearable here without you. Your family is an amzing example of strength, something that all of us can learn from. Even through the toughest times they stick together and continue to help others. They reflect the life you lived in the way they live. They truly are special people. We know you are happy in heaven, but we still miss you terribly down here. See you soon friend!

Deputy Chris Massengill
Roane County Sheriff's Office

September 16, 2009

Matt,

I just realized about an hour ago what today was. I had even looked at the clock this morning at 9:20 and said hey to you and still didn't even think about what today was. I just finished watching the video your mom sent me awhile back and thought back about all of my memories of you at dispatch. Of going to Cracker Barrel and you putting A-1 on your gravy and biscuits (yuck!). I miss you so much!

Your family is in my thoughts and prayers today.

Amanda Redmon

September 16, 2009

Praying for your family today.

Thank you for your service.

Rest easy Officer

Deputy and Firefighter
Southwest Florida

September 16, 2009

Never is one year easier than the previous-you are still missed as much today as you were your first day in heaven. Thank you for seeing that my prayers were answered. Everytime I remember how lucky I am, I think of all the people I have loved and who have loved me. So many of us were blessed with your love-you will never be forgotten.

Anonymous

September 16, 2009

Thinking of you and your family today Matt. You are missed by so many

Chief Joe Clark
North Caldwell Police Department , NJ

September 16, 2009

I sit here and just cry... I don't know what to say or do. I hurt so bad for your family. I can't imagine what they go through every day without you.

Five years ago from this very moment... I remember right where I was when Benny called me... he was so upset. I couldn't understand what he was saying. You were too young... it was too soon... there was so much life to be lived.

We all miss you terribly. I miss fighting with you, laughing with you... I could still hear your laugh down the hall at the p.d. I would turn around really fast and you weren't there. But I thank God your memory lives on every day... in the walls of the police department and the hearts of us all.

Please please please... put those loving arms around your Momma and just hold her extra close.

*Linda I love you more and more every day. I may not see you every day but I'm right here... no matter the time of day, no matter where you are or where I am... I will always be where you need me to be. I will love you always and forever.

We miss you Matt,
Rest in Peace

911 Dispatcher, Jessica Whittington
Roane County E911

September 15, 2009

Wow 5 years. Everytime I see a picture of you or think of you I think about the times you come through McDonalds dt and made us laugh with your crazy stories. How I would love to hear your voice and see your smile. Watch over all of us. I will keep your family in my prayers today as I do everyday. We love and miss you very much.

Vickie Murphy
Friend

September 15, 2009

5 long years must be a blink of the eye in heaven. It is what we all wait for while we try to move forward and figure things out here. All the way missing you and keeping you with us. Hold our hands tomorrow and the rest of this month. It is a hard month for us all around and until it is over I don't think any of us really breathe.

Ella hopes her letter to you only makes you happy tomorrow and doesn't make you cry. Because she says that even though heaven has no sadness you HAVE to miss us a little bit. She eventually finished her (very extensive) letter and decided I just really needed to see it- even though all along she said it was 'private' :) The precious baby has written "I have fun at school. And at school I think of you Uncle Matt."

We all think of you, Matt. All the time. Never ceasing.
With all the love in our hearts.

Ethan, Ella, Scott and I are fiercely sending our love to you today.

Jenny

September 15, 2009

Matt, You are never far. Only a moment separates us from you. We love your family so much and are deeply blessed to know them and love them as they struggle with today as they do everyday. We remember you always.

Joseph family
HPD

September 15, 2009

Well Son, tomorrow is almost here and I'm just sitting here looking at the picture of you that I so cherish and shaking my head. How can it be.....how can it be 5 years.....5 years since we have seen you, talked to you, laughed with you, laughed at you, hugged you and been hugged by you,talked on the phone with you, been amazed by you, been supported by you, listened to your latest escapade, rolled our eyes at you......just all around been captivated by you. I've come to the point where I realize I will never fully believe it. How can I. You are so still in every part of my life, but the pain of not having you physically here with me/us to actually live this life never changes, and will never cease until our time here is over and we are whole as a family again. I feel like we have so been cheated; I have asked God a thousand different ways why it is like this now. I don't know the answer yet; so I just try to picture you in heaven strong and beautiful; hanging out with the best of the best, because you are the best. Stirring things up as only you can. And remembering....
always remembering....when you were born, so amazed we got a boy; how you were so never still that I actually considered putting a harness on you at one point; watching you try to sneak a peek out the window at Christmas to see if you got the truck you wanted; seeing how proud you were at Academy graduation. Twenty-five years of memories that replay over and over, always hoping and looking for new ones, so thankful when someone tells us a new story, or stops in with a picture we didn't have before. You are so loved, so missed, so longed for. The only thing that would be worse is if I had never had you. Precious Son of My Life, Jesse Matthew Rittenhouse, I love you forever and always, more than the world, to eternity and beyond.

Momma

September 15, 2009

It doesn't seem possible that 5 years have gone by. Everytime I see the words "In God We Trust" I think of you and the penny that Benny found. I miss you so much.

Amanda G.

September 14, 2009

hey bro...so i just had to head up to washington last weekend to be with you. i needed to see your name, write you letters, cry a little, and hope against reality that you would walk around the side of that lion while i was sitting there. you know i would run and jump in your arms...and never let go of your neck...i know,it's a wish against reality.
i miss you so much right now...it's okay that know no one really understands exactly what it's like to be your little sister...but it sucks because you're the only one that can relate to how i feel and why exactly i miss you so much.
i just need some of your words right now. what would you say to me at this point, Matt?
I love you...i wish, once again, that we had more time together...

jess, lil' sis

September 12, 2009

I am going to New York city in the morning but I promise on Sept 16 I will stop whatever I am doing and remember you once again. I miss you so much. Watch over us Matt.

Anonymous

September 11, 2009

We little knew that morning,
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 beautiful 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.

Anonymous

September 10, 2009

Even though you are not physically here with us, your dedicated work as a police officer carries on. I had to look up a report for domestic violence and arrest that the courts needed. You were the officer that took that report in 2003. Still..your work here is continued.

Karen
HPD

September 10, 2009

I need to feel your arm around my shoulder extra tight as we walk this week.

momma

September 9, 2009

I just wanted to stop by and say hey and let you know that I think about you everyday. You are sadly missed and very much loved.

Vickie Murphy
Friend

August 29, 2009

Ella saw my list of phone numbers taped to my lamp on my desk the other day.....(it's been hanging there over five years......because it still has your number listed and I refuse to change anything like that:), she said "Does Uncle Matt have a phone number?" And I said,"Yes", and she immediately said "Let's call him!" My heart just sank when I had to say our telephones won't call that far. I get so sad that you are not here in their lives, but then when something like that happens I realize..all over again..that you ARE with them....and all of us....always...you are always a part of everything that we do. (Even in the Badlands where I actually got mad just picturing you going out so far and scaring me!) It's just space and time that separates us; but nothing can separate us as a family. Ever.

Forever Loving you, my son, my life.

Momma

August 4, 2009

Linda,
I see the Love you have for your children, it reminds me of how much I love my kids. I can see by you letters & updates to ur baby boy, that he was your everything. I can not imagine the pain that you must feel as each minute ticks by. I want you to know that even though I have not lost any of my children, I feel ur sorrow. I know that it sometimes must be hard for you to go on with your life. Please remember this 1 thing, GOD has aplan & he let u in on it when HE is ready for you to be apart of it. Matt is safe and God wanted Matt sittin beside him to help watch over us all. what a great choice for God to make! But, I KNOW that it doesn't make it any easier for those of us Matt left behind. please know that you are being prayed for daily by those of us who have read theses reflections. Take care sweetie. I WILL stop by your shop soon, just to give u a hug!
May the peace and love of God be wrapped around you in your times that you find it most difficult to live on.
Peace & Love,
Amy

Amy Keith
A mom

July 21, 2009

We head out to Mt. Rushmore in the morning! Oh how I wish you were going with us. I will find somewhere very special to leave a momento of you........maybe the Badlands!! I love you more than the world precious son of my life.

Momma

July 17, 2009