Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I wish so much you were here so I could have called you when you were sleeping and wake you by singing to you. That's what you use to do to me and it made me so mad. You used to call me before the sun was even up just so you could be the first one to wish me Happy Birthday. I wish I could do that for you. I wish Lawson could sing to you.

I try to keep your memory alive as much as I can Drew. I want Lawson to know what a wonderful person you were and how lucky he is to have an uncle like you. I wish you could see him and play with him and make him laugh like I know you would have done.

We took cookies around to the Police Offices again this week. I thought it was only appropriate with the loss of Trooper Blanton. Lawson told each policeman we saw... Thank you for keeping us safe. It was the cutest thing you've ever seen. I tried to talk to him about Trooper Blanton and how he is in Heaven with you... he said that he thinks the two of you are really good friends. I hope that is so. He seemed like a great guy. I went to his services and it was so very hard. All those hundreds of policemen and I didn't know one of them. I just wanted to hug each and everyone of them and tell them that my brother was so proud to be one of them. I knew you would have been there in that auditorium with them if you could. I stared out the window at the Lake where we grew up and remembered my high school graduation. I graduated in that same auditorium and I can remember you giving me that Drew Henley smile as I walked up that aisle. It was so hard being there Drew. It was entirely too close to home for me. But I made it. I had to. I had no choice. Those Troopers stood beside us when you passed, and I had to be there for them too. I know they didn't know me from Adam's house cat, but I knew I was there, and I had to do it for you, for them and for me. And I did it. I survived. Somehow I think you had something to do with that. Holding my hand the entire way through. Thank you.

I miss you so much. You are always in my heart and on my mind. I can't tell you how much I want to hear your voice again. I can close my eyes and still remember the way it felt to hug you the last time I saw you. I can remember the sound of your voice when you told me you loved me in my ear just before you loaded up the mini van.. that I gave you such grief over... and drove off. If I had known that was the last time I would have seen you, I never would have let you go. I love you so much. I can only hope you know just how much.

Happy Birthday old man. I love you to the moon and back again.

Liz
Baby Sis

June 26, 2008

Okay so i know i dont write to you very often, but to be completly honest it isnt real for me yet, i still believe i will come home to find you sitting in that black chair of yours, but everyday i walk in and realize your really gone your really not going to be there when i need you the most.

When people ask questions about what happend to you, the most common one is what do you miss most, i say the same thing every time, the little things, how your were always there for me, how we'd dance to our song before id go to bed, how i memorized the marine corp hym just for you, and the look on your face becuase you were so proud of me,how you were protective of me,your laugh, your smile, your yell,how you took care of me, how you loved me as if i was your daughter, but in my world i was, there was no one better then you, how we would hide from mom and c.j in walmart, how you'd run so fast id be flying becuase you'd lift me up with your arm, how i stood on your feet when you danced with me, how i wanted to calll you daddy but just didnt know the right time.

When you picked me up from kidzone every afternoon youd go "how was your day at school" in the calm voice of yours and every afternoon id say the samething"good", and i regret it till this day im sorry i shouldve told you every detail, and when i see you again i will.

i wanted to say happy Birthday drew i love you & miss you more everyday, and i just want you to know, your my dad, that will never change.

Alex

June 26, 2008

Hey baby...Happy Birthday!!! You would have been 37 today...although I know you would have told everyone that you were 29...AGAIN!! We wish that you were here so we could have a party and sing to you...you always hated that so much...lol...I miss you with all my heart...not a day goes by that I don't think of you and miss you...I love you forever...me


www.drewhenley.com

June 26, 2008

Hello my love...not a day goes by that I don't miss you...today was so hard for Lizzy...she went to the funeral for Trooper Blanton...I can't even imagine...I watched the news reports of the service...it just tears at my heart...I don't know how she sat through that...I wished so much I could have been there for her..and for the Trooper's family...they were all there for me when you passed...why Drew? why do these awful things happen to the best people? Everytime another officer is gunned down, the stories are all the same..."he was a great man, kind, giving, generous"...and on and on...hardly seems right that all the bad ones get to stick around here! You are a perfect example of one of the good ones, taken way too soon from this place...I still don't quite buy into the fact that you are in a better place, but if you are, then why do I have to stay here and suffer? Shouldn't we all want to be where you are? where is the motivation to continue to struggle alone? I ask myself this question all the time. I feel so very alone...everyday...alone. I have the kids...I have friends...and yet, I feel alone...because there is a huge piece of my heart missing that can never be replaced...3 years, 3 months...still feels like yesterday...how can if be so long since I have touched your face...Drew I remember your face...every line...the way your mustache would poke my face it was so wirey!! I loved your pointed nose and the way your chin stuck out..it was just who you were...I remember every tooth in your beautiful smile...and your balding head!! I remember how you would lay in bed and stretch your leg across so that your foot was always touching mine...and how you would chew in your sleep as your chin was pressed against my back...I would always say "what are you eating"...lolol...you never remembered those conversations...and your big brown eyes that always looked at me with such adoration...how could you have loved me that much? how could not still be here to hold me...somedays I need your arms to hold me so bad...but I just can't find you anywhere...its not fair Drew...its not fair that we finally had it all...and we didn't get to enjoy it long enough...you didn't get to see the kids grow up...watch them mature into young adults...you won't get to see them graduate from high school or college...or attend their weddings or see your grandchildren be born!! I would give anything to go back and be with you again...you were my dream come true...you and I were so perfectly matched...I never believed it was possible to find...but you were real...and I miss you so damn much...there is a piece of me that is broken...you could fix it...but since you are not I'm afraid it will never be fixed...and the disappointments of others only makes it worse...I believe them when they say they love me and will be there for me, but none of them is you...I just wish I didn't get so attached to people...it breaks my heart...and my heart can't take it anymore...I just really wish you were here...so I wouldn't have to be alone anymore...I love you with all my heart...I will love you forever Mr Henley...you were my night in shining armor...you will my prince charming...my dream come true...thank you for making me yours...always, me (Mrs Henley) xoxoxoxoxoxo

June 21, 2008

Hey Big Bro...

Well... This past weekend was a blast!! Chrissy brought the kids and the Irwins came!! It was so cool showing them around our stomping grounds. I wish I could have shown them more, but time was short. Took them to the Lake where we spent every summer and showed them the house. Took them by the farm and into Waynesville. Wanted to show them everything! Being with them makes me feel so close to you. I find some strange sense of comfort when I'm surrounded by people that knew and loved you. I'm so glad you brought them into my life... I just wish you could be here to share all these moments with me. Why didn't we hang out? Why didn't we get together and just hang as adults? I have so much fun when I'm with your friends and Chrissy. I just can't help but think how much fun we would have if you were there too. I miss you so much Drew. No matter how much time and life come between us, you will always be in my heart and I will always want you here.

A Trooper was shot and killed Tuesday on I-40 near the Canton exit. His wife Michaela took dance from me. They just had a baby two weeks ago... seven weeks premature. Now, tell me... how is this fair? It's not! Last night I was just chilling on the couch watching tv and the news came on. The first ten minutes of the broadcast was all about Trooper Blanton and his family. I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. I sat and cried and cried and cried. All those feelings coming back over me. I just relived the whole thing. It might as well been your face and our family on that screen. Why? Why do these things happen?

So I'm going to the services. The visitation is at Wells in Canton, where you were. I don't know how I'm going to get through it, but I have to. I have to do it. And the funeral is at the Auditorium at the Lake, where we grew up. Somehow, someway I have to muster up the strength inside me to get through it. It will be one of the hardest things I've ever done, but I have to do it. When you passed, a swarm of people and police surrounded us and gave me the strength to move forward. Gave me reason to get up in the morning. I have to pay that forward. That family may never know I'm there.... but I will, and I have to do it. I have to give back to the Police Brotherhood in anyway that I can.

I love you Drew Henley. I hope you knew that. I hope you know that now. I love you so much. I was stupid and took you for granted, and I regret that everyday of my life. I should have told you more what you meant to me. You deserved to hear it. But I didn't. So I have to live with that now. But I know you loved me. I know you were proud of me... and I hope I will always make you proud.

Help me through the next few days. Help Trooper Blanton's family too if you can. I know just exactly what they are going through, and no one should ever have to endure that kind of pain.

I love you so very much.

Liz
Baby Sis

June 19, 2008

Well we made it through...although it was sad to re-visit the places you had taken me before, none was as hard as going into Sagebrush in Canton...I thought I could take it...but as soon as we walked through the doors I was taken back to the night before we buried you...the guys and I walked there for drinks and to hang out...then they gave me that awesome shadow box...so I immediately texted john to tell him where we were, but the tears came pouring out...it seems like just yesterday and at the same time so long ago...I still look at that picture of you, the beach one, and I think to myself, how can this be real? how can you really be gone? I visit the cemetary, but it doesn't feel like you are there...I guess cause you are not...maybe living in Fl is good...I don't look for you here cause you never were here...but I still wish I could find you somewhere...I miss you very much....everyday..I love you...always me

John Lane...thanks for the memory...you are the best!!

June 18, 2008

We're on our way baby...see you very soon...I love you with all my heart...always, me

June 13, 2008

Hey Drew (Dew-as Kristin called you) I just wanted to let you know that we are coming the NC to see you this weekend! So I will be with Jeff, Kristin, Lizzy B, Chrissy, Alex, and CJ! Still miss you everyday! Chrissy still misses and loves you so much. Her bad days are less now but she still has them and it makes my heart ache so badly for both of you and all the kids. Chrissy and the kids will be meeting us for vacation in FL in July so we are all looking forward to that!! We love and miss you so much Drew! Wish you were here with all my heart. Always, Les

Leslie Irwin
friend

June 11, 2008

Hello my love...just a quick note to say I think of you each and every day...I miss you like crazy!! Soon we will be there to visit your resting place...although I know "you" are not there, I still wish I could visit with you more often...It should be quite a gathering this time...the Irwin's will be there with us...we will come together yet again to think of you, laugh at you, haha, and grieve your absence...not a single day goes by that I don't miss you...all I can do is smile through the pain...I miss your boys...it breaks my heart not to be able to hug them and tell them how much I love them, but I think they really do know it...I'm so proud of them both...I love you Drew...I will never stop loving you, forever and ever, my wonderful husband...no one will even come close to you...noone will ever live up to you...I wish you were here....I wish you were here for just a moment so I could smile at you...and see you smile back at me...It never gets easier...but it does get better...always and forever, you're wife...me

June 7, 2008

Officer Henley your work on this Earth as we know it is done. You are in God's Hands now brother. May you rest in peace

SGT. Daryl Brewer
Clarksville Police Dept. Clarksville, Tennessee

May 23, 2008

Memorial Day will be here in a few days and I wanted to stop at your page and thank you for your dedicated service to our Country and keeping us all free. You have not been forgotten.

Bob Gordon
Father of Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

May 23, 2008

I love you and miss you...I really wish I could feel your arms around me...not just today, but everyday....life without you will never be the same....we miss you very much...you are my love...forever...me

May 23, 2008

Hey baby...I've been thinking about you so much lately...there are days I think I just can't stand another minute without you here...but then the feeling passes...someone says or does something that makes my heart feel joy and I know I can make it through one more day...I wish you were here to see CJ play ball...his team is playing in the championship game tonight...we're so excited...CJ was missing you so bad last night...such a tender heart...I hope that you can be with him tonight during the game...I'll look for you...I miss you so very much...I love you...forever and always...me

May 21, 2008

Still can't believe you got me to climb up and squeeze through that window to check Booker T school when we noticed it had an open window.

Oh, the bruises I had the following day.

May 15, 2008

Chrissy,

Happy belated Mothers Day! Yourself and Drew make me want to be a better husband and Father. Drew was a tremendous academy classmate and I miss him and think about him all the time. I still cannot express the kind of person he was in words.

DRE
CSO

CSO
Chesapeake Sheriffs Office

May 12, 2008

Hello my sweet!! So Mother's Day is coming...I know it will be a hard day for your Mom, so I hope that you can shine some rays down on her during that day...and your sister too...she needs to feel your strength right now...be strong for her...

Each day I am reminded of the ability of people to disappoint...to be less than you had hope them to be...and yet with each disappointment I am reminded of the man you were...honorable...trustworthy...kind...compassionate...I realize now more than ever that there can never be another you...although I continue to search for you in the people I meet, I can't find you...I must find in myself the strength to live our life...the life we had planned...together...however difficult that may be...I am now alone trying to be both parts, yours and mine...it is a task I know I can accomplish...it is a task I know I must accomplish...I hope to one day join you where we may pick up where we left off my love...until then, I will perservere...I am not alone here...you know that...I have the kids...they are so awesome...all of them...and I love them so...I long for the day when we can all be together again...and my sister, your sister, I'm so thankful for the love she gives me and for believing in me even when I don't believe in myself...and of course Leslie...my rock...I don't know how she does it, but she always holds it together for me when I need her! There are so many days that I long to be back in Suffolk with the gang, but I know I can never again find there what I have lost...the piece of my heart will forever be missing...the piece lost on the day you left me...

I'm not going to DC this year...I am terribly disappointed...and sad...I was looking forward to seeing the tour come in...and once again seeing your name on the wall...it's always bitter sweet, but I do get so much out of it...but I will see you soon enough my love...we will be there in just a couple of weeks to visit with you and the family...I can't wait to sit and talk to you for a while...it's been way too long my love....I miss you...everyday I miss you...it just never stops...the lonliness...the emptiness...it never goes away...I will love you forever Drew...forever and ever...I can never thank you for the people you have given me!!!

We all love you so much baby...and miss you more than words can ever say...please watch over the guys...and girls...keep them safe always!!!

love you always....me

May 9, 2008

Just thinking about you Drew...........

Officer J. Lane
McKinney TX PD

May 4, 2008

YOU ARE REMEMBERED TODAY AND THANK YOU SIR FOR YOUR SERVICE

VANDENBERGHE
MANCHESTER, NH

April 30, 2008

Brother,
It has been too long since I have left you a message. I just want you to know I still think about you everyday and wish you were back with us. I am in Franklin now, but I still have your pin on visor. I know you are still watching over us and will always be with all your brothers in blue. I miss you Drew and will never forget you brother. Thanks for everything you gave us buddy and we will always keep you close.

Officer J.B. Butts
Franklin P.D. and Friend

April 25, 2008

Drew...I miss you baby...it's just so hard sometimes...being here all alone...I miss your phone calls...I miss you holding my hand...telling me how beautiful I am...loving me more and more each day...I miss your stories...from you and Mr Mahaley back in the day to the guys you would chase down the streets of our little town...I miss your smile...I even miss your grumpiness...I would give anything to have you back here with me...sitting in that rocking chair...doing that silly dance...it's just so hard here alone...I know that there will never be another you...so I have to figure out how to live the rest of my life alone...and I'm not doing so good with that...I miss the touch of your hand on my face...or the way your arms felt around me...holding me tight...how can I ever again feel that complete? how can I ever again feel that special? how can I ever again feel that loved? never again will I ever feel that fullfilled...forever I will feel...empty...without you...I love you my sweet wonderful husband...you were a one in a million...and I am so glad that you were mine...forever...on this earth and through eternity...I want you to know you'll always be...right here...in the center of my soul...i mean it! Always and forever...you and me baby...always and forever...I love you...me

April 16, 2008

"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 © 1993 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

April 8, 2008

Hey baby...Today your big man turns 14...hard to believe!! I remember the first time I met him...he was so little...just 6 years old...how could so much time have gone by already? I remember sitting on my front porch and the boys trying to hang all over me...I know you were jealous!! and then that night, when all 4 of them crawled into the water bed and watched tv until they fell asleep...I know how much you love them...all of them...and I know how proud you are of the young man Skyler has become...I wish I could wrap my arms around him and hug him...it's the worst part of losing you, having them so far away...I miss the summers when they would come and there was so much noise in the house!! They would love the house now, with the pool and the beautiful weather!! I can't wait for them to come down and visit with us...the boys' room is so awesome...I really wish Skyler and Austin could see it...it's such a fitting tribute to you and the patriotism you carried with you always...well, we love you more than you could ever know...always,me

Skyler...Happy Birthday big man!!! We love you so very much and can't wait to see you again...give some love to Austin from us too!!! See you soon baby!!!

April 7, 2008

Hey baby...thinking about you a lot this week...wish you were here...you should have been with us to celebrate Alex becoming a teenager! and in 4 days Skyler will be 14...how did they grow up so fast...and without you here to look out for them?! I know you are always with them, helping them through the hard times..just know that we will love you forever...there will never be another you in any of our lives! I love you so very much baby...I really wish you were here...I wish I could hear you say "good morning beautiful"...I miss it so much!!! We're getting through it...we're going to make it..and one day we hope to be with you again...love you always, me

April 3, 2008

Universal badge.........$15.00
Suffolk PD patch........$ 5.00
Nameplate...............$ 2.00
9mm Beretta.............$500.00
Working with C116.......Priceless

Some things money just can't buy.

April 1, 2008

Hey baby...I wrote this little poem just for you...to thank you for the "family" you have left behind to take care of us...I really do love and miss you so very much...I wish you could be here to laugh with us! love you always, me


I’m a Lucky Girl
By Chrissy Henley


In just one moment my whole world changed
Never again to be the same
I’ve tried to understand it all
To be strong, to stand tall
But in the end I have no clue
Of how or why or what to do
I think back to what we had
Sometimes it makes me really mad
But then I look around and see
All the love you left with me
Your love will forever be in my heart
Never will we be apart
And the others you have left here too
To try and mend and muddle through
They are my strength, they are my rock
Without them I would fall apart
I am a really lucky girl
To have so much love in my world
Some days I feel so much pain
Then I think of all I have gained
The friends, the family, here with me
To fill the space where you used to be
The broken pieces of my heart remain
But with their love I feel less pain
I know I am a lucky girl
Maybe the luckiest in the world

March 22, 2008