Waverly Police Department, Virginia
End of Watch Saturday, April 25, 1998
Reflections for Patrolman Allen William Gibson, Jr.
May your sleep be sweet and may your loved ones be ever blessed by Him who loves us all.G-d Bless.
January 9, 2008
just wanted to wish you a merry christmas up there, allen. i'm sure the celebration is marvelous, and so much more than we can ever imagine down here. i hope all you guys know how much you are truly missed. it seems that it's somehow twice as hard around the holidays, if that's possible. i can still remember my last christmas with cole. please take care of him, and if you guys get a chance, send us some love down here. :)
love,
jessi
December 24, 2007
Merry Christmas! Tell Jesus I said Happy Birthday!! Know we still love and miss you down here even though we haven't spent a Christmas with you in ten years. Doesn't seem right but I know you're in a better place and we'll all meet again one day. Until then your memory lives on in our hearts....
Laura
December 24, 2007
Allen, Although I never got the chance to meet you. I have heard many stories about you. I attended the police academy a few years ago and my seat was right in front of your picture. Just wanted to let you know that you have touched the lives of so many people even the ones that never got to meet you. Our thoughts are with your family. Keep an eye on all of us brother and we will meet in Heaven soon,
Ptl. Eric Deskins
Lebanon Police Department
November 30, 2007
how strange is it that i woke up kinda in a bad mood today.... but it's the 25th.... again.... i really hate that date, and i know laura probably does too. it doesn't matter what month it is or how many years have passed. i can't believe it's almost been a year since i wrote on your page. so many times i think of you. i never met you but it's incredible how connected i feel. i haven't been able to talk to laura as much lately. i moved into a new house and didn't have the internet. it's almost impossible to fathom how long you've really been gone. i can't imagine being in laura's shoes in a few years, but unfortunately i will be. in just a few months, you will have been gone for 10 years, and that is just mind-boggling. one of her messages below captured what i've been thinking. sometimes it seems like all this just happened yesterday and sometimes it truly seems like decades. i don't know why it happened to us. sometimes i think we must've done something wrong or not loved you guys enough. but i know that's not true. i still have dreams about cole. and everytime i do, i'm a mess the next day. i know laura understands. i wonder what life is like for you guys up there. i know you're all friends now, just as me and laura, and other girls i've met have become close. we have this bond. it's almost like being sisters. that bond can never be broken. we understand each other even without having to say a word. i would love to meet laura someday.... instead of just talking through e-mail! haha! she is simply fabulous, and i know you knew how lucky you were to have her love. well, allen, please take care of my baby up there. he can be so hard-headed sometimes! ;) send some love down to laura, too, so she knows you still watch over her.
love,
jessi
November 25, 2007
Yesterday was your favorite holiday (Halloween). I thought of you and how much you liked to play tricks on people! It's weird how I still remember the little things like that. I guess that's what keeps us going on without you.
Laura
November 1, 2007
Not a day goes by that I don't think of you. I try to religiously check this site to see if someone new has remembered you. I am glad to see you touched so many lives in the short time you were in law enforcement. I know you loved being an officer more than anything. I still enjoy law enforcement and the great guys I work with. It's been nearly 8 years now since I got hired on with Patrol Division. I think everybody in this line of work just hopes somewhere down the road we made a difference and I believe you did. Keep watching over us and until I see you again, know I love you.
Laura
October 22, 2007
Hey Allen I was just reading through all these reflections and felt like talking some more I've really not metioned you much I guess cause it bothers me so much. I've not been able to get down to see your family in a long while and when I did which was right after all this happened I couldn't look your mom in the face with out crying. I know you know how I feel and I hope they do its just hard. You know you were the one that picked me up from work and took me down to the hospital were they had brought my dad who had just been killed in the Coal Mines. I just couldn't hang with you. I didn't make much of a Police Officer after you left us so I went and became a Coal Miner like Dad. I promise I will suck it up and get down to see your Mom, Dad, Doug and Chrissana, it just sucks losing to good people tell dad I said hello and I love ya....
Lumpy
Friend
October 19, 2007
I got Allen his job at Waverly Police Dept. and he lived with me up in Waverly he was also my Brother-in-Law. I was with Allen in the Woods that day his life was stolen and his family lost something words can't describe.He treated everybody supper nice, he did his job professional and I just sure miss him.Everybody that reads this know this: We all lost something great that day...I guess we will all see you soon Allen take Care....
Lumpy
Friends
October 19, 2007
My prayers are with you and your family.
Former N.H. Police Officer
Fauquier County, VA
September 30, 2007
Sometimes it feels like yesterday and sometimes it feels like it's been a million years since you were taken from us. Wonder if it will ever really "sink" in. It's just so weird. Unless somebody has been down that road they have no idea the emptiness you carry inside you forever.
Just thinking of you....
Laura
August 28, 2007
i just wanted to take this time to express my sympothies to the family of Allen, and his friends... i knew both Allen and his brother Doug in highschool... being a former police officer myself, and having a twin brother that is a police Lt. i too have faced the utter emptiness and loss felt when brave officers are taken from us... Allen along with people like myself do a job that most dont want to do, and for that i comend him and everyone else that dares to wear a uniform... rest in peace brother...
Erik Miller
Wallens Ridge State Prison
August 24, 2007
VERY touching poem. Its nice to see that after all this time, you still write to your husband. I just graduated from the police academy in Georgia, and it sounds like I could have learned alot from your husband. Thanks for the poem, it was beautiful.
Kenny Grant
Kenny Grant
Richmond County Sheriff Dept.
June 20, 2007
Just missing you today, thinking of you, and wondering how things would be today if you hadn't been taken away from us that day. I love you.
Laura
June 10, 2007
Happy Birthday!!! You would have been 35 years old today. I'm sure you're having a blast up there in Heaven today. Just wanted you to know I was thinking of you. I sent your Mom a card letting her know I was thinking of her as well. I know your birthday is especially hard for her so I wanted her to know she was in my thoughts and prayers. Hope it helped her in some small way.
Laura
May 4, 2007
Happy Anniversary. It would have been our 11th one....
Laura
April 27, 2007
A salute Patrolman Gibson......9 years E.O.W
Officer
Chesterfield County Police Dept.
April 26, 2007
Rest easy Brother.
Former Police Officer
Warrenton,VA
April 25, 2007
Just wanted you to know you were on my mind and in my heart today. Nine years ago today you were taken from us. I don't know how much I can write today, it's just not a good day...maybe tomorrow. Anyway, we love and miss you more than you know...
Laura
April 25, 2007
Allen,
I remember I was only 15 years old when I met you. I had known Laura for most of my life and I remember when she met you she was so happy!!! You made her life complete. I remember when Mom and Tim would go to Laura's parents before and after church and other days just to visit I would always come over to see you and Laura because you two were the happiest of any couple I had ever met. Like I said, I was just a young teenage girl and I looked up to both of you. You two truly reminded me of a story-book romance and to me you were such a perfect couple. You two had the relationship that I wanted for myself. I remember before Laura met you she would get sad sometimes and say she just wanted to find a good man who would love God, Love her, and be good to her and when you came into her life her prayers were finally answered. I remember thinking that I wanted my life and relationship to be just like your's. A truly happy, in love couple, who love each other and always love God even more and always did your best to put him first. And I remember your beautiful daughter and how much you loved her!!! I also remember how much Laura loved her. And then, on Sunday, April 26, 1998, I remember my Mom calling me early that morning and telling me the horrific story about what had happened to you and that you were gone. I remember thinking that I could not imagine the PAIN Laura, Your beautiful little girl, and your family must be feeling. And then I remembered that the next day would have been your 2nd wedding anniversary and thinking how in the world will Laura be able to deal with loosing you. I kept thinking WHAT could I do to help her and help ease her pain and then it came to me...There was nothing I COULD DO! Nothing anyone could do, because we could not bring you back and that is the only thing that would ease her pain. So then I began to Pray and Pray and Pray some more, and I know that is how Laura and your family has been able to survive. Because you really was such a wonderful person and I know that they have peace in their hearts knowing that ONE DAY SOON you all will meet again. Until then, I know everyday is rough, some harder than others, but I wanted to let the Family and esp. my dear friend Laura know that I will continue to keep you in my prayers. I know I have rambled on and on but I just found this site today and I could not rest without leaving my reflection of such a truly wonderful man and a real LIFE HERO!!! Laura feel free to contact me if you would like at angela.dickenson@yahoo.com . I love you like a sister and I want you to know I am here for you ALWAYS.
With Love,
Angie
Angie Dickenson
Friend
April 9, 2007
Happy Easter!! I can't imagine what goes on up there on Easter Sunday. There must me quite a celebration.
Laura
April 8, 2007
Although I never had the chance to know Allen Gibson I have heard of what a great man he was through mutual friends. The life he led touched the lives of a number of people. He is a great American Hero.
Deputy Sheriff
Dickenson County (VA) Sheriff's Office
March 22, 2007
After I posted on your site I visited another officer's ODMP site, Cole Martin. I've become really good friends with his fiancee Jessi. You and Cole were both killed on April 25 so Jessi & I have learned to lean on each other for support. Well, she had a song posted on his site that I had never heard before now. The song suits you to a T!! miss you....
Warning...song WILL bring tears!!!
Here's the words:
"Heaven was needing a hero" by Jo Dee Messina
I came by today to see you
I had to let you know
If I knew the last time that I held you was the last time
I'd have held you and never let go
It's kept me awake nights, wondering
Lie in the dark, just asking why
I've always been told
You won't be called home
Until it's your time
I guess heaven was needing a hero
Somebody just like you
Brave enough to stand up
For what you believe
And follow it through
When I try to make it make sense in my mind
The only conclusion I come to
Is heaven was needing a hero
Like you
I remember the last time I saw you
You held your head up proud
I laughed inside
When I saw how you were standing out in the crowd
You're such a part of who I am
Now that part will just be void
No matter how much I need you now
Heaven needed you more
Cause heaven was needing a hero
Somebody just like you
Brave enough to stand up
For what you believe
And follow it through
When I try to make it make sense in my mind
The only conclusion I come to
Is heaven was needing a hero
Like you
Heaven was needing a hero
and that's you
Laura
March 21, 2007
Just thinking about you and thought I'd get on here and see if anybody new had posted. I'm so glad to see that others think of you often as well. I've already emailed Richard so hopefully I can stay in touch with him. I love hearing the stories about you at work. See, I didn't know you were so mischievous at work!! Just hearing those kind of stories helps keep your memory alive, which is so important to us all!!
Laura
March 21, 2007
Allen I have heard so many great things about you. Even though I never met you, Scottie Owens, former Dickenson County K9 Deputy told me that you were a great guy and that he had attended the police academy with you. You are a hero Allen and I send all my prayers to you, your family and friends. Watch over us all...
Deputy Sheriff Brandon Yates
Russell County Sheriff's Office
March 3, 2007