Second annual Saddle Brook Blue Mass honors fallen officers n PHOTOS BY JOSHUA SIGMUND
A special Blue Mass in Saddle Brook honored all law enforcement officers who lost their lives selflessly serving their communities and helping others on June 1.
More than 500 community members, law enforcement officers and families of the fallen attended Bergen County Local 102’ s second annual Blue Mass at the St. Philip the Apostle Church to remember 12 New Jersey officers who died in the line of duty in recent years.
The Bergen County Police Pipes and Drums led the procession outside the church followed by Mark Goodell, the father of fallen Waldwick Local 217 member Christopher Goodell, driving his son’ s 1966 Ford F- 100 and Ron and Linda Petruzzello, the parents of fallen Cliffside Park Local 96 member Stephen Petruzzello, behind the wheel of their son’ s 2007 Ford Mustang, which was blessed at last year’ s Mass.
The Cliffside Park Local 96 and Teaneck Local 215 Honor Guard presented the colors to begin the ceremony.
“ We all love to be remembered,” said Reverend Thomas Norton, the Bergen County Police Chief’ s Association Chaplain.“ But if we want to be remembered, we have a duty to remember others.”
The photographs of the 12 law enforcement officers laid on the alter before New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno and Congressman Bill Pascrell presented flowers and a Blue Mass Challenge Coin to
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the families of the fallen in attendance at the close of the Mass.
“ I think it’ s very personal if we can pay special tribute to the families who were left behind, especially by our local fallen officers,” stated Saddle Brook Police Chief Robert Kugler.
Along with the Petruzzello and Goodell families, the survivors of Fair Lawn Local 67 member Mary Ann Collura, Jersey City Detective Melvin Santiago, Bergen County Sheriff’ s Lieutenant Brian Beutel and Saddle Brook officer Gregory Korczak attended.
“ I really wanted to do something as not just a memorial but a celebration Mass,” explained organizer and retired New York City officer Bill Gent.“ When the families embraced me, I felt it. I’ ve been through a lot and seen a lot, but it was very emotional.”
Gent went door-to-door to the police departments in Bergen County to get the word out about the Blue Mass and members from Teaneck Local 215, Wayne Township Local 136, Paterson Local 1 and a dozen more – including New Jersey State Troopers – attended to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
“ We all call ourselves brothers and sisters, and it really develops into a family,” recognized Gent.“ I’ ve seen towns devastated by the loss of officers and I can tell you first-hand that all of the officers still feel the loss.” d