Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Lynn, I am so proud of you! You are such a strong person and I don't know how you do it sometimes! I see myself in you in so many ways watching everything you have to go through since losing Matt. I just want to protect you from so much but I know you are such a strong person! It was so great seeing you again today! We always seem to pick up right where we left off! I love the time we get to spend together! Listening to you talk about Matt, I know he is always in your heart and NEVER will be forgotten. You ALWAYS have a friend in me and just remember a lot of what I said about what we talked about today and everytime we talk. xoxo Denise

Denise Zimmerman
Surviving Spouse of NJ State Trooper Bert Zimmerman

March 1, 2009

ALMOST 3 YEARS BROTHER, BUT STILL NOT FORGOTTEN! KEEP WATCH OVER US TILL WE MEET AGAIN! MY THOUGHTS GO OUT TO LYNN AND THE REST OF YOUR FAMILY

P.O.
NJSP

February 22, 2009

I get on this website everyday and read about the men and women that have lost there lives in our line of work. For some reason reading the reflections of Officer Melchionda got me choked up. Matthew sounded like the type of guy that led a wonderful life and blessed others with the grace of his presence. You gave a sacrafice to keep the citizens of your town safe and for that I salute you my brother in blue.
Anonymous Deputy

Deputy
Harris County Sheriffs Office

February 1, 2009

I think of you often Matt! God Bless!

Trooper

January 30, 2009

The Year Before Last
By Unknown

The holiday season approaches,
and with it comes the New Year.
Although for me time passes slowly,
New Year’s Day rings in quickly.

I dread New Year’s Day
because they will look at me
in a terribly strange way
when I get misty-eyed,
and talk about something you had done.

After you first left me,
they reasoned when I cried,
“He’s only been gone a few months.”
And I would catch that look of
understanding in their eyes,
and found some comfort that they knew.

But on last New Year’s Day,
my first thought upon awakening was,
Oh God, my son died last year,
not just a few months ago, not even this year
but last year.
He will never live in this year.

They didn’t understand, they didn’t reason,
that last year, for me, the loss was still new.
They thought, “It happened last year,
so long ago, why does she cry?”
I could see it in their eyes.

This New Year’s Day, it wasn't different?
My first thought upon awakening was,
Oh God, my son died the year before last
not a few months ago, not his year or even last year,
but the year before last?
He will never live in this year.

Will they even listen, should I not look them
in the eyes, for fear that I shall see,
“Why is she still crying? It happened so long ago,
it was the year before last.”

Those words that we use
to describe the passage of time,
a few months, this year.
Last year, the year before last.
They don’t know that time stands still for me.

Will they understand that’s why I cry?
Don’t they know
My son just died.....

The year before last?

Anonymous

January 1, 2009

Matthew:

Missing you always but espeically at Christmas. How you loved my Christmas dinners. You will be with us as we gather and remember.

The mention of your name may bring tears to my eyes - but it never fails to bring music to my ears. I never want to be kept from hearing the beautiful music of your name or memory. It soothes my broken heart and fills my soul with Love.

Always remembered and never ever forgotten, my son, Matthew. I love you with all my broken heart.

Mom
XOXOXO

Jane Melchionda
Mother of Fallen Officer Matthew Melchionda

December 23, 2008

Officer Melchionda,

Thank you for watching over us everyday. You will never be forgotten! May god bless you and your family!

Warren Twp. PD

Anonymous

November 12, 2008

Matt,

You are missed every day. Thank you for watching over us.


"With every friend I love who has been taken into the brown bosom of the earth a part of me has been buried there; but their contribution to my being of happiness, strength and understanding remains to sustain me in an altered world."
- Helen Keller

Officer Jeanne-Marie Mocarski
BHPD

October 31, 2008

Matthew:

Three years ago today, we were all getting ready to celebrate your marriage. It was a glorious day with bright sunshine and not a cloud in the sky. Little did we know that just more than five months later we would be brokenhearted. Today is bright and sunny and not a cloud in the sky but without your smile and laughter, the sun doesn’t shine so brightly and the sky will never be quite as blue again. We miss you so terribly. We will never forget your wit and intelligence and that laugh of yours - it was just the best.

You will always be remembered by those who loved you and always will.

With love only a mother can know,

Mom




An Irish Blessing:

May the good earth be soft under you
When you rest upon it
And may it rest easy over you
When, at the last, you lay out under it.
And may it rest so lightly over you
That your soul may be out from
Under it quickly, and up, and off,
And be on it’s way to Heaven.

Jane Melchionda
Matt's mother

September 17, 2008

There is not a day that goes by where you and your family are not in my prayers...I am forever grateful for the friendship you and Lynn have given to both Louis and I.

Sleep Well...

Anonymous

September 2, 2008

Matt,

I never got the chance to meet you. My brother in-law Rob works with you wife. Everytime I vist their home I see your beautiful wedding photo on their refrigerator. I always pause for a minute and pray. May god keep you safe up there. Keep watching over us down here. Your brother always.

PO.Kalyoussef #833
Emerson Police Dept

August 8, 2008

Hey pal, been thinking about you a lot lately. I hope that you are well and watching over us. I know that you are "helping" me along through everything going on. Take care brother. Still missing you buddy.

LD
Friend

July 9, 2008

Janey: I could never have understood the love you feel for a child until having one of my own. I still cannot fathom your loss. Everyone whom Matt touched his short time here on Earth will forever wonder who he'd be today. I think of you and your family always. My brother and Matt are up there in Heaven hanging out with Hank right now. I just know it. XOXO


WHO YOU'D BE TODAY
By: Kenny Chesney

Sunny days seem to hurt the most
I wear the pain like a heavy coat
I feel you everywhere I go
I see your smile, I see your face
I hear you laughin' in the rain
Still can't believe you're gone.

It ain't fair you died too young
Like a story that had just begun
But death tore the pages all away
God knows how I miss you.

All the hell that I been through
Just knowin' no one could take your place
Sometimes I wonder
Who you'd be today.

Would you see the world, would you chase your dreams
Settle down with a family....
I wonder what would you name your babies

Somedays the sky's so blue
I feel like I can talk to you
And I know it might sound crazy.

It ain't fair you died too young
Like a story that had just begun
But death tore the pages all away
God knows how I miss you

Sunny days seem to hurt the most
I wear the pain like a heavy coat
The only thing that gives me hope
Is I know I'll see you again some day
Someday, someday...

Susan
Friend of Family

June 18, 2008

Lynn, thank you so much for your reflection on Berts page...I know I have said it before but Matt and Bert were working together up there to bring us together to form the great bond that you and I share. Its amazing how a friendship like ours has come from a double tragedy. No one will ever know or understand the loss we share but you and I because ours are so similar, and I think thats what makes you and I so close. The poem you left me was beautiful. Thank you. Love ya girl.

Denise Zimmerman
Surviving Spouse of NJ State Trooper Bert Zimmerman

June 5, 2008

I am missing you, Matthew. A moment doesn't go by that I don't think of you. It is like you just disappeared into thin air. We had no opportunity to say goodbye, only to mourn your loss. I feel so cheated. However, as Emerson wrote: "It is not the length of life but the depth of life".

I love you still.......

and always will,

Mom

XXXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Matt's Mom

June 4, 2008

Hey Lynn.....Im glad you and I talked today. You know I am ALWAYS here for you. I love you and you can call me anytime!!! Love, Denise

Denise Zimmerman
Wife of NJ State Trooper Bert Zimmerman

June 1, 2008

WHATS UP BUDDY? JUST THINKING ABOUT YOU AS I WORK THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT, KEEP US SAFE BROTHER!

P.O.
NJSP

May 27, 2008

Memorial Day 2008

Is every minute of every day for me

Your smiling face I yearn to see

I remember every moment with you

I cherish every memory too

I miss you, Matthew.

With all my love,

Mom


To all who have visited and left messages:

Thank you for the kind and beautiful words and for remembering Matt. Please keep his memory alive by imparting your memories of happy times on this sight. When Matt was in college, he wrote the following as an introduction to a sort of autobiographical:

"We all leave different depressions in the sand of the beach of life.

Some of us leave deep depressions, we make a wide, sometimes violent wake through life. Influence, impression, power, intelligence; these are the qualities which make our footprints deeper, and sometimes permanent, set in the concrete of history books, or memory.

We all strive to leave this type of deep impression to be remembered by others during our days, or after our days are over. But our days are numbered, so we have to squeeze all we can out of each of them, living them to their fullest, cheating ourselves out of nothing. Each day must be valued and savored as if it were the last, no time can be wasted.”

Matt wanted to be remembered and it is for certain that those of us who loved him will never ever forget him. However, it is my hope that his words will be remembered by all here. Each day is a gift and should be savored like fine wine - one of the many things that Matt enjoyed. He was unique, intelligent, tried to always do his best, was brave in so many ways, wanted police officers to walk with honor and strove to have the value of further education mean something in police work. This was evidenced by his achieving a Masters Degree and his superb investigative skills which resulted in successes no matter how large or small.

To police departments everywhere: If you want to honor Matt, reward hard work and education and the intangible qualities of caring and kindness that surely must be a counter balance to the difficult job and, if nothing else, please do whatever it takes to make police cars safer for our sons and daughters who wear the blue. Too many are dying in auto accidents.

> Gone from our sight, but never from our memories.
> Gone from our touch, but never from our hearts.

Matt's Mom

May 26, 2008

Lynn,

I want you to know something, one day I was sitting in Watchung Court. Matt sat next to me and we started talking. I had known him a while due to my job but never really spoke with him. He was so happy and honestly I couldn't figure out why. I asked, what has gotten into you today, he said something I will never forget, he said, the most amazing women in the world is going to marry me. I proposed and she said yes. I wish you could know her, I wish everyone could know her. She's an angel sent from above. Everyone should be so lucky to have what I have. I dont know what I;ve done to deserve this but I dont think I can ever be happier.

These words have never left my mind

Not a day goes by that I don't think of you or him. Im so so so sorry for his passing.

May 12, 2008

I think of you every time I'm on 78 in Watchung. God bless your family.

Trooper

May 3, 2008

Happy Birthday Yesterday, you and your family are in my thoughts everyday.
L,
~S

April 1, 2008

THINKING OF YOU BROTHER, EVERY NIGHT I PUT ON THE UNIFORM. WATCH OVER US AND KEEP US SAFE, YOU'RE ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS

TROOPER 1
STATE POLICE

March 31, 2008

Matthew,

Before you were conceived I wanted you
When you were born I loved you
Before you were here an hour
I knew I would give my life for you
That is the power of a mother’s love


Thinking of you on your birthday with love beyond words,

Mom

March 30, 2008

Rest in peace sir. Your sacrifice has not been forgotten!

TROOPER
NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE

March 12, 2008

YOU ARE REMEMBERED TODAY AND THANK YOU SIR FOR YOUR SERVICE

VANDENBERGHE
MANCHESTER, NH

March 11, 2008