Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Dear Linda and family, thank you so much for your posting on Tom McMeekin's page. He is my nephew, and had carried on a proud tradition in our family-- my dad was also a police officer, along with my two brothers and I. We will be there with heavy hearts this year, and will be thinking of your Matt also.

Capt. Michele Polk (Ret.)
Atl. City NJ Police Dept.

May 11, 2006

Happy Birthday Matt! We all miss you so much.

Amanda Redmon

May 11, 2006

Happy Birthday Matt!

K-9 Officer John Mayes & Christy
Harriman Police Dept

May 11, 2006

Happy Birthday Matt!

K-9 Officer John Mayes & Christy
Harriman Police Dept

May 11, 2006

Happy Birthday Matt. I love and miss you , Matt.

Bea

May 11, 2006

Happy Birthday buddy!

Nathan

May 11, 2006

happy birthday matt!!

today will be a very hard day for your family, please send a few extra angels to care for them. we miss you every day and we love ya, fluffy :)

executive secretary, jessica fink
harriman police department

May 11, 2006

Happy Birthday Matt.

Blake Kirkland

May 11, 2006

Matt-
I am packing to leave for D.C. in the morning and I keep getting distracted because it is your birthday tomorrow and it is all I can think about. I keep thinking there have to be photos of you, of any of us with you that I have not found yet... so I stop folding clothes and shuffle through mounds of pictures that I know have been searched many times over. I pull out pile after pile of memories looking for you in there somewhere. But there is nothing new. As sad as I am tonight I also smile-- I remember another birthday not so long ago. It will always seem like yesterday to me. As is our family custom to make a big deal over one's 21st birthday we planned the traditional fancy dinner at the Regas in Knoxville. And we waited. And we waited. And no Matt. So we all sat in the parking lot for what seemed an embarrassingly long amount of time until deciding to eat I-can't-remember-where without you. I can't recall what was ever the explanation for standing us up on YOUR birthday but I'm sure it was a good one. And remember that funny brithday dinner we had for you at Olive Garden? And your last birthday dinner at the Japanese place and I was terrified that Ethan would get third degree burns from that flaming grill thing at the table? But you just laughed and it was great. I love you and miss you.

Jenny Rittenhouse-Guinn

May 10, 2006

Matt,

I just wanted to tell you that you greatly missed, and there are things that come up daily that reminds me of how you were. On April 23, 2006 we had a half marathon 13.1 miles in your memory and I ran it beleive it or not. I thought about stopping at the sonic on the way through to keep the tradition up. The weird thing about the race I was listening to my MP3 player while running. We ran past the accident site and that song you requested that week before your accident came on by Alice In chains"Rooster". That helped give me the adrenline I needed to keep going. I finished 1st in my age group. The funny thing I was the only one in my age group. This past friday I went to a cook out at your parents house. We were there in support of Jessica, she has been training very hard to ride in the police unity tour. That takes alot of training/dedication. You have a wonderful family. Happy Birthday.

Assistant Chief Tim Philips
Harriman Police Department

May 10, 2006

Matty, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
I am wishing you a Happy Birthday a few minutes early; you know how crazy the world is and how we sometimes forget the most important things. And your birthday is one I didn't want to forget. I know that you will watch over your loved ones each and every second. I pray for your family all the time; I pray they find the peace that is sometimes hard to find hidden in grief. Take care of your mother this Sunday on Mother's Day; she is blessed to still have 2 children and 2 grandchildren, but NOTHING in this world could ever replace the love she has for you. Tell my mom Happy Mother's Day for me and that I love her and miss her more than anything in this world. I love you.
Amy

May 10, 2006

Happy Birthday Matt, I know you are one of the brightest stars in heaven shining down on us. I love and miss you.

May 10, 2006

Hey Baby Boy,

We are closing the shop, getting ready to go to Washington in the morning for Police Week. Celebrating your birthday flying to see your name etched on a wall. I don't mean it to sound as harsh as it does, but it's the truth. 27 years ago tomorrow I got the second of the three greatest blessings of my life. I laughed, Daddy cried, and the wonderful whirlwind that was you started. It never stopped for 25 wonderful years. We said over and over through the years how blessed we were to have you all. We still are.........it's just different now. We miss you so much I don't see how we go on sometimes, but we do, but never is there a minute you are not foremost in our hearts and minds. You changed our lives and world FOREVER by being YOU........JESSE MATTHEW RITTENHOUSE.

I had a dream last night, I was standing at the edge of a huge forest, the trees were SO thick, I knew if I could just get through it you would be waiting for me. I could hear God saying Linda you HAVE to trust me. I'm trying son.

You always wanted to be a Police Officer, you did it with honor, integrity, and respect.

You are the best son a mom could ever have. Thank you for never telling me I had to stop calling you my baby boy.
Son of my life, I love you forever and always, to eternity and beyond. Thank you for being born 27 years ago on May 11, 1979.

Always and forever, Your Mom

Momma

May 10, 2006

To Matt's Mom & Family,

Thank you for the reflection & kindness that you left on Todd's page. We too will be in DC to honor all of our heroes, with heavy hearts, but proud thinking about Todd. I read all of the reflections that were left for Matt & I can see how proud all of you are of him - he must have been a very great man. I can see how much you love him. He is very lucky to have you for a Mom. Happy Mother's Day (a little early) and I hope that we get an opportunity to meet you in DC.

Tonya
Sister of Trooper Todd M. Larkins, EOW 07/08/2005

May 9, 2006

Thinking of you and your sacrifice today. I know you, Peter and thousands upon thousands of other fallen heroes are having a blast in Heaven, but sometimes it's so hard to miss you guys. Thank you for all you kid for your community. In the reflections on this page, I've read how missed and loved you are... God bless you and your family. I'm glad God lead them to this site to see how many of us across this nation will NEVER forget you. Say hi to Pete for me? Enjoy Heaven!

LEO Fiancee and friend of Peter Grignon EOW 3/23/05
Louisville, KY

May 5, 2006

To Matt's Father,

I just want to say thank you for your presence at Deputy Mike Moore's funeral in Rockwood on April 9, 2006. Mike was a cherished friend of mine and I was heartbroken from his passing. Seeing you there was so inspiring. Law Enforcement Officer's and their families are truly one big family and I thank you for being part of that. Mike had a "920" sticker on his old truck in Memory of Matt. I'm sure Matt, Mike and Jason Scott are all protecting us from above as we speak. Once again, Thanks, and, if your family is in DC next month; maybe we'll see you there.

Cpl. Teresa Smith
Loudon County, TN. Sheriff Dept.

April 30, 2006

Matt,
Your sister will be out here next week to make the trip to DC with us this year. She has told me how much she has prepared for our bike ride. I just hope that all of us can keep up with Jess now.
Wish us luck !

Joe Clark
Chief of Police
North Caldwell Police, New Jersey

Chief Joseph F. Clark, Jr.
North Caldwell Police, New Jersey

April 28, 2006

Matt-- I have been thinking a lot about you today, as I do most days. I miss opening my e-mail knowing there will not be one from you... I miss knowing I will never receive another call with your voice on the other end of the line. My sister told me something the other day that I shouldn't be selfish. She told me that those who are in heaven are happy and joyful, and they would not want their loved ones to live lives of sadness. I imagine you every day in heaven. I think about all the crazy things you must do, the people you make laugh every day, that adorable smile that warms every heart. I miss you so much. I miss you more than I thought was possible. But I go one because that is what you would want me to do. You would want me to think of all of the happy memories we had together and not linger on all the memories I know we will never have. I miss you... I love you.

April 27, 2006

Hey Son,

Wow, what a weekend. How many more things could happen. Don't even anwswer that. I'll do the good first. The race was great. Who would have ever thought there would be a marathon named after you:). The official title was "Rittenhouse Emory River Half Marathon". The t-shirts had that on the front with the bridge going across the Emory River and on the back in the center of the sponsors names was your Celtic Cross with your name on the base of it. We all wore them and manned a water station. Ethan and Ella loved it. Ethan was so serious about handing the runners the water cups which was a good thing because you know your sisters and I were too busy talking and carrying on to be of much help. Daddy shot off the starters gun after he gave a little tribute to you and how at the last race you were a part of you detoured to Sonic in the middle of it and they had to track you down. So the runners saluted Sonic as they passed it:). It was nice to be able to actually laugh as we thought of you. Also, it was pouring the rain before the race started, which I thought was fitting, but then it cleared up and was beautiful. ( I love you so much Son.) Jason rode your police bike as support and Jessica was supposed to ride with him but she hadn't shown up when the race started. Nobody seemed to have a straight answer as to where she was (actually it was just no one was telling me). Well, you already know, she had a wreck on the way to the race, in your car. Your buddies took care of her and she finally made it. Just another part of the story which is your story.

Just a couple of more weeks until we go back to Washington. Jessica has trained and trained for the Police Unity Tour. We will all be standing there as she rides in. Our love for you and each other is and always will be stronger than anything that this life throws at us. We just hold on to that and each other and you.

Loving you forever and always,
Momma

April 24, 2006

matt,

the rittenhouse / emory river half marathon is this saturday. your tattoo will be proudly displayed on all of the race shirts. i wish so much that you were here with us. i miss the silly things you would always do to make us all laugh. once the run gets started and i'm headed to work a water station, i'm sure i'll glance over to the sonic remembering the race in '04. you always had a special way of enlightening a dreadful or stressful situation!

yesterday an officer came by the station to get one of your window decals. i'm not sure what agency he was with, but he said he was assigned a new unit and needed another 920 sticker. that was a special moment of the day :)


please continue to watch over all of us. and please give me the right words to say to encourage your family. they mean so very much to our department and the city. it's hard to know what to say or do sometimes. i just want to be a help to them. we all want to help feel the empty hole in their hearts and lives. we miss you matt. you will never be forgotten. you have a special place in my heart. love ya, fluff

executive secretary
harriman police department

April 20, 2006

Hey Rittenhouse been thinking about you buddy. With your birthday coming up and the Washington trip almost here again my mind just keeps thinking about you. You may have left this earth but you have never left our hearts and minds. The garden at the police station is bright with flowers, I see your parents drive by to look at it. I would like to think my life would make a difference the way yours did and does.

Forever Protecting
Forever Serving
Forever in our hearts.......that's you 920

April 18, 2006

As Easter approaches I wanted to write and let you know, Matt, how much you are missed and loved. Our family is so incomplete without you. I understand your mom is having lunch for everyone tomorrow. I know how much you loved family gatherings, and I'm sure she continues doing this as a sign of love for you. I know you are proud of her strength and courage. I know you are proud of your dad, as well. He continues meeting all of his responsibilities, through his physical and emotional pain. Jessica is symbolizing her ability to endure by honoring you in a long-distance bike ride. What an act of pure love! Jenny and Scott honor you by keeping you ever present in their lives and in the lives of Ethan and Ella. I know you are in the presence of God. Please see to it that your family feels His strength and comfort. We love you, Matt.
Aunt Marta

Marta Nichols
aunt

April 15, 2006

I would have cried with you.........and that would have been ok.

Thank you for your reflection and letting me know you think of Matt.

*********

The mention of my sons name may bring tears to my eyes, but it never fails to bring music to my ears.

My Friend, Let me hear the beautiful music of his name.
It soothes my broken heart and sings to my soul.

Love,
Matt's Mom

April 12, 2006

My friend....I've thought a lot about you lately. I know it sounds crazy but I swear every time I look at a clock it's 9:20. I don't know if I just know when it's that time or if it's you. Probably both. I know that every time it happens I think about you and smile. The other day I was in the car and I saw something that brought a memory of you to mind and it wasn't a minute after that one of those songs you was always singing came on the radio.

I think about you everyday. I miss our friendship. I saw your mom in wal-mart and I wanted so bad to go say hi but I knew if I did I'd only start to cry and I didn't want to upset your mom.

I'll never forget you Matt. I'll never forget all the times we laughed together. I treasure those memories.

April 11, 2006

Mrs. Rittenhouse, thank-you so much for the kind words you left on my husband memorial page. It means a lot to know that people actually read the messages and that maybe, just maybe they are able to take something from them. Thank-you for sharing. As hard as it was to loose a husband, having two children, I cannot imagine the pain of loosing a child. I am so sorry for your loss. I read through many of the postings on your son's page and two that caught my eye were rather recent ones. In one you talked about your kids screaming and running around and it made me think of my two doing very similar things. The second was the one where the tire clerk gave you some night slips. I still have all paperwork that was in my husband's cruiser the night he died, even his log sheet. Little things like that, things we don't give a second thought to in our day to day lives come to mean so much when you loose someone you love.

Matt, continue to watch over your mom as I am sure you will do without reminding.

Thank-you again for the kind words!!!!

becky Muncy, widow of Sgt. Marc Muncy
assistant Prosecuting Atty, Franklin County

April 5, 2006