Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Every morning while we raise the colors we recite your name and take a moment to honor your utmost dedication to the job. You will never be forgotten and if not for the other recruits, you will push me to be the best officer that I can be, although never to be able to surpass your amazing talent you brought to this profession. Rest In Peace.

Recruit Cevasco
Somerset County Police Academy

May 17, 2006

Dear Matt,
As my county laid to rest one of our officers today, I want you to know that you will never be forgotten. You all truly are heroes for paying the ultimate sacrifice. We all know the possibilities when we take our oath and place our badges on our chest, however, it does not make it any easier when one of our fellow officers fall. I went to school with your brother, and you and your wife just went on a cruise with my brother, making it a reality that it can happen to any of us. The thin blue line lives on forever...thank you for your service...my thoughts, prayers, and condolences to your wife, Dave, the rest of your family, and your fellow brothers and sisters back in Jersey. May you R.I.P. knowing your watch is ours now...

PFC Julie Smith
Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, VA

May 13, 2006

My beloved Matthew:

My heart is forever broken and I will miss you and love you every moment of every day of my life.

I love you,

Mom

April 29, 2006

You are in my prayers.

Ofc. S.L. Coffman #15174
California Highway Patrol

April 28, 2006

Dear Uncle Matt,
We miss you very much. Thank you for taking us to the movies and playing with us on the beach. We think about you every day. We know that you are always going to watch over us and be our guardian angel. We want to be just like you when we grow up. Aunt Lynn is going to visit us this week and we will take good care of her for you.

Love, Carly and Michael Galanaugh (Niece and Nephew)

Carly and Michael
Niece and Nephew

April 23, 2006

My son is a 30 year old police officer. I worry about him for many reasons considering his job in law enforcement. Every time I yield to an officer reponding with lights and sirens I think that could be my son and yield completely for him or her. The job is dangerous for many reasons but a traffic fatally involving an officer just gave me another reason to keep my son even more in my prayers for his safety. My prayers also go out to this officer and his family who lost him to such a senseless tradegy by the many thoughtless drivers on our roads. Eileen Adamonis

Eileen Adamonis
mother of a police officer

April 19, 2006

Dear Lynn:

I think of you every day and hope that you are doing alright. I want to talk to you but I just don't know if it would be O.K. - I so vividly remember the first days and weeks after Jesse died.......it was so very difficult. Every situation is different and every person's needs are unique - I don't want to make anything harder for you. Please know that I think of you all the time and if there is anything I can do for you.....

God bless you, Lynn. I hope you are surrounded by the love of family and friends - they will hold you up when you can't stand on your own.

Carin E. Sollman, surviving spouse
Officer Jesse E. Sollman, EOW 3/25/05

April 16, 2006

Rest in peace Officer Melchionda.... your work is done here now... watch from above. God's speed to his family & co-workers & community that he leaves behind.

Patrolman
Macungie Boro PD (Lehigh County, PA)

April 15, 2006

Dear Melchionda Family,

I, too, took a course with Matt. I did not get to know him well, but he was always a cheerful and positive fellow - a nice guy to be around. I am sorry for your loss. I know he was doing what he loved.

Angela Weigle

Angela Weigle
Centenary College

April 4, 2006

Dear Matt,
We welcomed you into our family with open arms...knowing that you were a perfect fit. God blessed you with an incredible gift of making everyone feel special. You have made such a powerful impact in Lynnie's life and ours as well. You are sorely missed and will not go forgotten. I think and pray about you daily. Happy Birthday.
Love, Denise (sister-in-law)

Denise Bonczek

April 2, 2006

On behalf of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, we would like to express our deepest sympathy on the loss of PO Matthew Melchionda. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife,family and police family.

Chicago Police Memorial Foundation

April 1, 2006

REST IN PEACE... God bless you and your family.

Stevens Institute of Technology Police

March 31, 2006

REST IN PEACE... God bless you and your family.

Stevens Institute of Technology Police

March 31, 2006

Matt: It's your birthday, and we wanted to let you know we are thinking of you constantly and miss you so much. We hope you know the joy you brought to all of our lives, especially to Lynn. You are a brother-in-law by title, but to me, my siblings and our spouses, we consider you our brother. It was truly a blessing to have had you in our lives. Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing you is a better person for it. We love you and will always remember you as an extraordinary person who celebrated life to its fullest every single day. God Bless you. Love, Laura, Pete and Peter Andrew

Laura Avalos
sister-in-law

March 31, 2006

Dear Melchionda's,
It is with such tremendous sadness that I write this. I just can not believe it.
My thoughts are with you always. I am so sorry for this loss.
Matt, you are forever in my heart.
Love,
Sara

Sara Hetrick

March 31, 2006

Matt,

Remembering you on your birthday and every day.

Officer Jeanne-Marie Mocarski
Berkeleu Heights PD, New Jersey

March 31, 2006

Rest in peace brother.

Police Officer
Columbus Ohio Division of Police

March 29, 2006

My heart goes out to Matt, his wife and his family. I did not know Matt well but I had one class with Matt at Centenary College and I remember him always walking into class with such a big smile. You could tell he was a nice guy to be around and he had such an awesome sense of humor. Rest in peace Matt. You are a true hero.

Jeff Heaney

March 28, 2006

God bless you and your family Matt. You are forever in our thoughts and prayers

Trooper
NJSP Perryville

March 28, 2006

I did not know you, but I thank you for your dedication and sacrifice! Not to worry, my dear friend, your brothers and sisters in blue will continue your watch.

LaWanda Ross
Citizen/Council Bluffs, IA

March 27, 2006

Rest in peace sir. Thank you for your service.

Shannon
Collins Fire Dept. (Mississippi)

March 25, 2006

Rest in peace my brother. The fight is over for you now. We will continue the fight for you. Go with God. Condolences to your family.

Officer James Brentner
Ft. Lupton PD Colorado

March 24, 2006

My sympathy and prayers go out to the wife, family, friends and police family of Officer Melchionda.
To Officer Melchionda you will never be forgotten and will always be in my daily prayers. Thank you for all your hard work, your dedication and your sacrifice you made in protecting the citizens of New Jersey God bless you as you sleep in God's Love and in His Peace.
Respectfully,
Kathi Halligan wife and mom of LEO

March 24, 2006

LYNN, YOUR PARENTS, YOUR SIBLINGS, AND MATT'S FAMILY,

I KNOW FOR SURE HEAVEN IS A PLACE OF GOOD AND HEALED AND PEACE, LOOK AT ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL ANGELS THAT GO BEFORE US. I SO AFTEN LOOK FOR THE BRIGHTEST STAR AND WONDER WHICH ANGEL IS PREPARING NEW WINGS FOR ONE OF OUR HEROES.

BE STRONG AND KNOW MATT AND PHIL AND BERT AND CHRIS AND BILLY AND JIM AND SO MANY OTHERS, HAVE WELCOMED MATT INTO THEIR HOME AND WE ARE HERE TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU INTO OURS.

OUR FAMILY OF "SURVIVORS" AND THAT'S WHAT ALL OF YOU WILL BE, "SURVIVORS", UNDERSTAND THE LOVE, THE PAIN, THE HURTING AND THE MISSING. WE ARE HERE AS YOUR CRUTCH TO HELP YOU WALK THROUGH YOUR NEW PATH ONE STEP AT A TIME.UNTIL WE CAN STEP ASIDE AND WALK WITH YOU ARM IN ARM.

MY PRAYERS CONTINUE TO HOLD YOU ALL IN MY HEART AND I PRAY FOR PEACE UPON YOURS. I'M HERE FOR ALL OF YOU GOD BLESS AND KNOW OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILY IS THE STRONGEST, CLOSES AND PROUDEST PEOPLE. WE WATCH OUT FOR OUR OWN.

DEL

DONNA LAMONACO W/81
NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE

March 24, 2006

TO THE WATCHUNG POLICE DEPARTMENT, STAFF, DISPATCHERS, EMT:

I NEVER LIKE MEETING ANYONE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO WHICH I DID YOU ALL OF YOU, HOWEVER, AS I TELL MANY, THESE ARE THE BEST PEOPLE AND WHY WOULD WE NOT BECOME ATTACHED. OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FAMILY MEMBERS ARE GOOD PEOPLE AND COME FROM GREAT FAMILIES.

REMEMBER THIS AS EACH OF YOU CARRY ON YOUR DAILEY ROUTINE, REMEMBERING THE MANY TIMES YOU CAME ACROSS MATT IN YOUR LIVES. THESE WERE TIMES TO PLACE IN YOUR HEART AND AS THE MEMORIES BECOME EASIER TO RECALL, THE LIFE OF MATT WILL BECOME THE PILAR OF YOUR STRENGTH.

I AM HERE FOR ANY OF YOU, BUT MOST IMPORTANT BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER. REMEMBER MATT FOR WHO HE WAS AND WHAT HIS PURPOSE WITHIN THE WATCHUNG POLICE DEPARTMENT MEANT. PLACE HIS BRICK IN YOUR FOUNDATION AND BUILD UPON IT.

GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU
DONNA

DONNA LAMONACO W/81
NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE

March 24, 2006