-
e
k
s.
Former Essex County Police Local 54 member Nick
Dell’acqua displays a shirt he had made to remem-
ber fallen offi cers in his department. The Collura family wore T-shirts remembering Fair Lawn Offi cer Mary Ann Collura, who was killed in
the line of duty in 2003.
“It would be nice if my husband was
alive to have a family day (like this) with
the kids, and for him to see how much the
kids have grown since he last saw them,”
Chatrain expressed. “But this is a great
substitute to be here with our second
family.”
For Garden State C.O.P.S. President
John Ciuppa, helping survivors band to- gether as a family is one of his strongest
missions. Ever since his father, Ignazio Ci-
uppa, passed in the line of duty when he
was 9 months old, John has experienced
plenty of sad days. He has spentmany
anniversaries of his father’s death at the
cemetery and taken multiple C.O.P.S. bus
trips to the Memorial to see his father’s
name on the wall.
But basking in the sun coming from
above – and from the event – he was re-
minded of how important it is for survi-
vors to have days like this, to celebrate life
and create happy memories together.
“A day like this brings me back to life
and lets me know what we do is import-
ant to everybody.” Ciuppa stressed. “It’s
CONTINUED ON PAGE 50
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■ AUGUST 2018 49