Survivor’s Resource
Ocean Township members feel the honor of being at the Vigil
Family members of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty - survivors of fallen of-
ficers as they are known - arrive at the Candlelight Vigil and walk into a sea of people. The path
from where they exit their buses to their seats at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is maybe
a couple of blocks long, and it’s impossible to imagine the courage it must take to go the distance.
The support that gets them through comes from law enforcement officers who travel from
all around the world to serve as honor guards and escort these survivors to a place where they
can remember their lost loved one. You have not served and protected at this magnitude until
you have escorted a survivor at National Police Week, and Ocean Township Local 371 member
Michael Matelski allowed a look into the experience when he honor guarded at the Vigil this year.
“You try to make some small talk. Ask where they are from. Tell them where you are from and
make them feel comfortable,” Matelski shared about escorting families from Georgia and Texas
during his honor guard tour. “For me, it’s special. We’re here to honor brothers and sisters that
have gone before us, and we don’t get a chance like this to tell them thank you for their sacrifices.”
Matelski and Local 371 member Sergeant Dennis Jarin came through a pouring rainstorm to
get to the Vigil. They rode the Police Unity Tour with the team from Ocean Township, and coming
through Maryland on the second of the three days left them soaked to the seat. But even though
the weather for the Vigil was similarly cold and windy, Jarin found a way to lift some of the som-
berness.
“It was a very sad moment for me, although its very heartwarming that I am able to do this
for the survivors of the officers who died in the line of duty,” commented Jarin, who escorted
families from New York, Tennessee and Texas. “We try to show that we will never forget these
officers who died in the line of duty. I feel very privileged that I’m able to walk that survivor to
this event so we can honor the loved one of an officer who died defending peace or the life of
another person.” d
Ocean Township Local 371 members Dennis
Jarin (left) and Michael Matelski served as
honor guards escorting survivors at the
Candlelight Vigil.
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ JUNE 2017