ATTENDANCE MATTERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29
But whether it’ s a group of 91 or 2,300, there’ s an empowerment among the riders that accelerates during Police Week.
“ There is no rank when we’ re on the ride,” Montuore states.“ We form the most diverse law enforcement organization in the world, and when you hear a story about where somebody came from or why they are riding, it gets you through another mile.”
United they ride, and if you have been part of the pack, you swear you feel the presence of the fallen officers whose names are on the bracelet that each participant wears and signify its“ We ride for those who died” mantra. This is a tie that binds the present to the past. Another symbol is the dollar bill the Tour delivers each year to the Memorial as a contribution on behalf of fallen officers.
Consequently, Rosario confides,“ We can make the sacrifice to ride 300 miles to raise awareness.” And that effort leads to the longest thin blue line in the world. Thousands of miles, of course, are traveled to get all 2,300 to RFK Stadium, where riders muster into formation to make the final run to the Memorial.
When the first riders – who accompany family members of fallen officers who have ridden the Tour – enter the Memorial, the last riders are just leaving RFK. It’ s a parade of honor that Pellegrino says never gets old even after 14 years, and“ brings everything into perspective at that point.”
Phillips discloses that the sunglasses industry gets a huge boost from that moment when each rider passes into the memorial.
“ The first time I rode in, it was almost like the names on the wall were saying to me,‘ Where have you been?’ And now when you ride back through, it’ s‘ Welcome home, brother,’” he continues.“ It’ s so powerful, and if you took the sunglasses off all those big tough women and men, you would see that all of their eyes are moist, if not dripping.”
It represents the best in law enforcement
Colligan warns that missing the Candlelight Vigil or not taking time to explore the Memorial wall is like walking out of a football game at halftime. Yes … the Super Bowl.
The families, the history and the heroes that give Police Week its once-in-a-lifetime distinction make a visit to the wall a must for every law enforcement officer. Reunions, reminiscence, remembrance and prayer services take place along both sides of the wall throughout the week. It is a place to feel the trials and tributes, the crying and the laughing, the pride and the honor in volumes that remind officers and their families why they do this job.
And because the wall stretches a full block on each side, you can’ t see it all, much like you can’ t see all of the Smithsonian during one visit. Like so many visitors, Manchester Township’ s Cronk has developed a ritual to find the names of his department members who have been lost. Patrolman Robert Tobias, whose watch ended in 1975, is enshrined on the west side; Corporal Scott Thompson, who was lost in 2015, is engraved on the east side. Each year, he makes a loop that elicits emotion he finds hard to put into words.
“ There are no words; you have to see it and feel it because it puts a real perspective on our jobs,” Cronk begins.“ It’ s such a prideful experience, and you can spend hours looking at the memorabilia.”
Ah, yes, the memorabilia. The notes, the cards, the artifacts and the artwork feed Police Week’ s never-forget impact. Too many of the pictures have messages like the one that Adria
McMeekin would draw each year for her father, Atlantic City Local 24 member Thomas, who was lost on March 4, 2005:
I miss taking walks on the Atlantic City and Ocean City boardwalks with my dad.
Car doors and motorcycle windshields from accidents in which officers were killed are displayed as shrines with signatures of all sisters and brothers from the department. Some have become tributes, with murals telling the story of the fallen officer’ s life. Each year, there is also that pair of boots newly shined to a mirror finish under one name.
“ These are heart-wrenching, but it’ s also respect,” Phillips accentuates.“ Walk around and see them because you are reading our stories.”
You can pack your sunglasses when you visit the Memorial Wall, but there’ s no need to hide the tears. Cry a little. Celebrate a little. Remember a lot. And by the end of that first visit, Police Week becomes a part of you. The feeling you should have is wanting to come back again next year, and the year after, for as Montuore articulates,“ It represents the best in law enforcement.”
A few more opportunities to experience the best in law enforcement come with the Candlelight Vigil. Being a part of the candle lighting typically started by one of the country’ s highest-ranking elected officials – in the past it has even been the President – and watching it domino through a square block and 20,000 people compels Montuore to describe it as“ a tribute to the true heroes.”
When the candles reach full glow, a blue laser shines from back to front of the Vigil so bright and real that attending officers feel like they can reach out and touch it. They see the light and know they will be linked to a never-ending blue line forever.
One final note: When packing to go to Police Week, take your Class A dress uniform. Any officer who wants to participate can muster before the Vigil with officers from across the country and be part of the detail that escorts family members of fallen officers into the ceremony. This includes walking a survivor to be seated but also standing at attention in the line that they pass through. The shoulder-to-shoulder formation presents an awe-inspiring pantheon of the country’ s finest, a rainbow that is the fabric of what keeps all its citizens safe and protected.
“ I see the same officers from Kentucky, Maryland, Florida, New Jersey and so on, and I have every year,” Cronk shares.“ I will stand side-by-side with them until I retire because we are here to represent, and no matter how much mileage there is between us, there are no boundaries to being a sister or a brother.”
Indeed, no words can fully convey what it means to go to Police Week and why every law enforcement officer should feel the passion of riding into the Memorial at the end of the Unity Tour, the emotion of walking the hallowed grounds and the pride of raising a candle. But, really, there aren’ t enough words. d
30 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ APRIL 2017