Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

To Matt's Father,

I just want to say thank you for your presence at Deputy Mike Moore's funeral in Rockwood on April 9, 2006. Mike was a cherished friend of mine and I was heartbroken from his passing. Seeing you there was so inspiring. Law Enforcement Officer's and their families are truly one big family and I thank you for being part of that. Mike had a "920" sticker on his old truck in Memory of Matt. I'm sure Matt, Mike and Jason Scott are all protecting us from above as we speak. Once again, Thanks, and, if your family is in DC next month; maybe we'll see you there.

Cpl. Teresa Smith
Loudon County, TN. Sheriff Dept.

April 30, 2006

Matt,
Your sister will be out here next week to make the trip to DC with us this year. She has told me how much she has prepared for our bike ride. I just hope that all of us can keep up with Jess now.
Wish us luck !

Joe Clark
Chief of Police
North Caldwell Police, New Jersey

Chief Joseph F. Clark, Jr.
North Caldwell Police, New Jersey

April 28, 2006

Matt-- I have been thinking a lot about you today, as I do most days. I miss opening my e-mail knowing there will not be one from you... I miss knowing I will never receive another call with your voice on the other end of the line. My sister told me something the other day that I shouldn't be selfish. She told me that those who are in heaven are happy and joyful, and they would not want their loved ones to live lives of sadness. I imagine you every day in heaven. I think about all the crazy things you must do, the people you make laugh every day, that adorable smile that warms every heart. I miss you so much. I miss you more than I thought was possible. But I go one because that is what you would want me to do. You would want me to think of all of the happy memories we had together and not linger on all the memories I know we will never have. I miss you... I love you.

April 27, 2006

Hey Son,

Wow, what a weekend. How many more things could happen. Don't even anwswer that. I'll do the good first. The race was great. Who would have ever thought there would be a marathon named after you:). The official title was "Rittenhouse Emory River Half Marathon". The t-shirts had that on the front with the bridge going across the Emory River and on the back in the center of the sponsors names was your Celtic Cross with your name on the base of it. We all wore them and manned a water station. Ethan and Ella loved it. Ethan was so serious about handing the runners the water cups which was a good thing because you know your sisters and I were too busy talking and carrying on to be of much help. Daddy shot off the starters gun after he gave a little tribute to you and how at the last race you were a part of you detoured to Sonic in the middle of it and they had to track you down. So the runners saluted Sonic as they passed it:). It was nice to be able to actually laugh as we thought of you. Also, it was pouring the rain before the race started, which I thought was fitting, but then it cleared up and was beautiful. ( I love you so much Son.) Jason rode your police bike as support and Jessica was supposed to ride with him but she hadn't shown up when the race started. Nobody seemed to have a straight answer as to where she was (actually it was just no one was telling me). Well, you already know, she had a wreck on the way to the race, in your car. Your buddies took care of her and she finally made it. Just another part of the story which is your story.

Just a couple of more weeks until we go back to Washington. Jessica has trained and trained for the Police Unity Tour. We will all be standing there as she rides in. Our love for you and each other is and always will be stronger than anything that this life throws at us. We just hold on to that and each other and you.

Loving you forever and always,
Momma

April 24, 2006

matt,

the rittenhouse / emory river half marathon is this saturday. your tattoo will be proudly displayed on all of the race shirts. i wish so much that you were here with us. i miss the silly things you would always do to make us all laugh. once the run gets started and i'm headed to work a water station, i'm sure i'll glance over to the sonic remembering the race in '04. you always had a special way of enlightening a dreadful or stressful situation!

yesterday an officer came by the station to get one of your window decals. i'm not sure what agency he was with, but he said he was assigned a new unit and needed another 920 sticker. that was a special moment of the day :)


please continue to watch over all of us. and please give me the right words to say to encourage your family. they mean so very much to our department and the city. it's hard to know what to say or do sometimes. i just want to be a help to them. we all want to help feel the empty hole in their hearts and lives. we miss you matt. you will never be forgotten. you have a special place in my heart. love ya, fluff

executive secretary
harriman police department

April 20, 2006

Hey Rittenhouse been thinking about you buddy. With your birthday coming up and the Washington trip almost here again my mind just keeps thinking about you. You may have left this earth but you have never left our hearts and minds. The garden at the police station is bright with flowers, I see your parents drive by to look at it. I would like to think my life would make a difference the way yours did and does.

Forever Protecting
Forever Serving
Forever in our hearts.......that's you 920

April 18, 2006

As Easter approaches I wanted to write and let you know, Matt, how much you are missed and loved. Our family is so incomplete without you. I understand your mom is having lunch for everyone tomorrow. I know how much you loved family gatherings, and I'm sure she continues doing this as a sign of love for you. I know you are proud of her strength and courage. I know you are proud of your dad, as well. He continues meeting all of his responsibilities, through his physical and emotional pain. Jessica is symbolizing her ability to endure by honoring you in a long-distance bike ride. What an act of pure love! Jenny and Scott honor you by keeping you ever present in their lives and in the lives of Ethan and Ella. I know you are in the presence of God. Please see to it that your family feels His strength and comfort. We love you, Matt.
Aunt Marta

Marta Nichols
aunt

April 15, 2006

I would have cried with you.........and that would have been ok.

Thank you for your reflection and letting me know you think of Matt.

*********

The mention of my sons name may bring tears to my eyes, but it never fails to bring music to my ears.

My Friend, Let me hear the beautiful music of his name.
It soothes my broken heart and sings to my soul.

Love,
Matt's Mom

April 12, 2006

My friend....I've thought a lot about you lately. I know it sounds crazy but I swear every time I look at a clock it's 9:20. I don't know if I just know when it's that time or if it's you. Probably both. I know that every time it happens I think about you and smile. The other day I was in the car and I saw something that brought a memory of you to mind and it wasn't a minute after that one of those songs you was always singing came on the radio.

I think about you everyday. I miss our friendship. I saw your mom in wal-mart and I wanted so bad to go say hi but I knew if I did I'd only start to cry and I didn't want to upset your mom.

I'll never forget you Matt. I'll never forget all the times we laughed together. I treasure those memories.

April 11, 2006

Mrs. Rittenhouse, thank-you so much for the kind words you left on my husband memorial page. It means a lot to know that people actually read the messages and that maybe, just maybe they are able to take something from them. Thank-you for sharing. As hard as it was to loose a husband, having two children, I cannot imagine the pain of loosing a child. I am so sorry for your loss. I read through many of the postings on your son's page and two that caught my eye were rather recent ones. In one you talked about your kids screaming and running around and it made me think of my two doing very similar things. The second was the one where the tire clerk gave you some night slips. I still have all paperwork that was in my husband's cruiser the night he died, even his log sheet. Little things like that, things we don't give a second thought to in our day to day lives come to mean so much when you loose someone you love.

Matt, continue to watch over your mom as I am sure you will do without reminding.

Thank-you again for the kind words!!!!

becky Muncy, widow of Sgt. Marc Muncy
assistant Prosecuting Atty, Franklin County

April 5, 2006

I felt your presence so strongly last night I just stopped what I was doing and waited for you to walk around the corner.

April 3, 2006

Hey Precious Son,

I love you. I love you. I love you.

There are so many stories I want to write, so many things I want people to know, but I'm sitting here just thinking and remembering, unable to gather the thoughts into sentences.

Jason has been putting some of your stops onto tapes for us. It's so wonderful to be able to watch you do your work. Some are so hilarious they would be great on COPS. We watch the time on the camera and it is just stop after stop some nights. You were always so professional and CALM, your sisters are very impressed since you all delighted in seeing who could be the rowdiest and make me start screaming and going crazy that someone was going to get hurt. Jessica finally took pity on me and devised a signal to let me know if she was just screaming to egg you on or really needed rescuing.:)

When I was in college I came across a poem that one of the lines has always stayed with me. It said:
"If death and I met suddenly
And I were given choice
Of all the sounds I'd ever heard
I know I'd choose your voice."
When your voice came on in the first tape, that verse just burned behind my eyes. Watching you, hearing you...such a gift. And that laugh, what I would give to hear your laugh. Your laugh made other people laugh!!

Well Baby Boy, I love you, you know that. To eternity and beyond.

Forever,
Your Mom

March 27, 2006

Matt,
I got to work the road the other day for the first time in a while. Oak Ridge keeps me pretty busy and I don't get to come out like I want to. I went into the office and Jason had some of your videos looking at them and it reminded me just how crazy your were. Not that any of us could forget, its just nice to have the videos to laugh with! We miss you buddy, everyday. I was patroling through town thinking about the times you had loaned me your car to patrol when there were none at the P.D., you were always willing to help in any situation. I not only think of you everyday, but your family as well. Every now and then out of the blue an old memory from when we worked at the county will just pop in my head, and I just have to smile. We are trying hard to hold on to the good times and make it through, some days are easier than others.

Chris Massengill
Harriman Police Dept

March 26, 2006

DEAR LINDA & FAMILY THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFULLNESS. I KNOW YOU STRUGGLE WITH THIS TRAGEDY. KEEP IN MIND THAT OUR YOUNG MEN ARE A SPECIAL GROUP. AS I TALK TO OTHER PARENTS, IT SEEMS THAT OUR CHILDREN THAT HAVE GONE INTO THIS CAREER HAD A DESIRE TO HELP OTHERS AND WANTED TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE. IN THERE SHORT TIME - THEY DID! THINKING OF YOU TODAY. JEAN BLYLER
JOSH'S MOM EOW 05/02/04

JEAN BLYLER
MOM

March 24, 2006

Dear Linda & Matt's Family,
Thank you so much for your heartfelt reflection on my husband's web site. I thank you for your kind words of encouragement and thoughtfullness.

Even though time keeps elapsing, I know that your lives will never be the same, as we keep taking 'one step at a time' forward. Often times, it feels as though we take one step forward and perhaps five backward. The most important part is that we keep trying to live our lives the best we can without our beloved officers. Their memories now live on in our hearts, minds and souls...forever.

God Bless You,

Juli Verkler
Widow of Ptlm. Bryan S. Verkler EOW 12/13/03

March 22, 2006

Dear Linda & Family,
Thinking of you always and lifting you up in prayer. I know that Matt and Josh are walking golden streets of glory together. Linda, your encouragement to other fallen officer's loved ones is a gift from the Lord. Again, you all are in my thoughts and prayers. I will always remember Matt's name and the sacrafice he made.

Much love,
Kelly
(Josh's Kelly)

Kelly Gillain
*Josh Blyler EOW: 5.2.04*

March 21, 2006

Dear Matt's mom,

Thank you for your kind words on my husband's site; it's always such a comfort to find a new reflection there. It reminds me again that I am not alone in my pain - that others are with me who share my sorrow. That makes it more bearable.

I can't think of anything much worse than losing a spouse, other than losing a child. I can't begin to imagine your pain - your beautiful young son taken from you. My heart and soul aches for you.

Looking at your son's photo - yes, he and Jesse were probably built the same. Jesse was like a rock, he was larger than life in his physical presence and his personality. Everyone who knew him loved him. He was one of those unique people you only get to meet once in your lifetime, if you are lucky. He lived his life with such gusto, he gave 100% to everything he did. I miss him so much. The kids miss him so much. He lit up this house and made everything come alive; it isn't the same without him here. But I'm doing the best I can, I am surviving. I know he would want me to continue on and be happy so that is what I am trying to do.

I check the ODMP every day and am always so saddened to read of another line of duty death. I remember so vividly those first days after Jesse died - they were horrible, as I'm sure they were for you. My heart goes out to each family that suffers this loss. Noone should have to go through this.

But the truth is, it will continue to happen. Officers will lose their lives, mothers will lose their children and families will be broken. All we can do is help each other through it. I will look for you also in DC - I would like very much to give you a hug.

They are gone, but they are NEVER forgotten. You are Matt's mom forever.

Carin E. Sollman, surviving spouse
Officer Jesse E. Sollman

March 15, 2006

matt...sometimes when i have a really big challenge or decision in front of me and i'm not sure if i'm able to make the decision, i think of how you always had my back and would let me know that you knew i could do it. i miss you so much right now...i know you always have my back...and one day i'm gonna give you the biggest hug for that...(you're gonna get sick of how long i'm gonna hug you.) it's been too long matt. i love you forever...
your little sis,
jessica

March 14, 2006

We played this Chris Rice song at my mom's funeral last month, and somehow after I hear the words I am left with this amazing peace, knowing that one day we all will be togeher again---

Save me a seat at the breakfast table,
save me a dance around the Milky Way, and save me a thousand years to whisper in your ear all I've wanted to say.
Save me a smile and an angel's feather,
save me a walk down the streets of gold, and baby, we'll change our minds just like old times and maybe we'll just fly away, or maybe we'll stay.

Matt, I hope you and Momma are having a blast in heaven... I am sure it is more amazing than anyone could imagine.

Amy Butt McWilliams

March 14, 2006

To Matt's Mother,
I read your very sweet reflection that you left on my father-in-law's page. You must be a very special lady to be able to think of others when agonizing over your own child's death. My husband is a deputy for our parish, and had been off duty for four hours when his dad was killed. I'll never be able to forget having to wake him to tell him that his dad had been shot. As if that isn't enough to deal with, my husband was injured by buckshot that grazed him back in the summer when on a call with an angry, mentally unstable man. The man killed his friend and fellow deputy who was attempting to take cover on the passenger side of my husband's patrol car just before he shot at Bryan. Bryan keeps on patrolling, and we keep on praying for his safety every day.
I'm very sorry for your loss and do admire your ability to comfort others. From reading your son's reflections, it is apparent that he was and is loved by so many, and missed by many. May God continue to uphold your family and may He comfort us all.

Carol Linder
FPSO wife and daughter-in-law of Asst. Chief Bill Linder EOW 10-10-04

March 13, 2006

To Officer Rittenhouse, his loved ones, and especially his parents with whom I share the special agony only a parent feels when they lose their precious child:

On this the seventeenth month after your tragic death, please know that your memory is honored and revered today.

My heart is still with your family and I look forward to meeting them someday. Hopefully in D.C. You’re all in our thoughts and our prayers.

Matt, you rescued us, saved our possessions, our lives and our families. You are one of the rare heroes among us. You were always there for us in the most traumatic moments of our lives. No matter when we called, we just expected that you would come and do whatever it took to help us, and you always met our expectations. Your selflessness and dedication are awe-inspiring.

This world, this country, your community truly are better places because of you. To have lost you is a great tragedy, an irreplaceable, immeasurable loss for society. We are grateful for and to you, and honor you for all you did for us day in and day out whether you received a word of thanks or praise.

Rest in Peace, Officer Matt Rittenhouse. I am so humbled by your valor and courage.

This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the distinquished service Matt gave to his community and the citizens of Tennessee, and for the supreme sacrifice he and his family made on September 16, 2004.

Phyllis Loya, mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

March 9, 2006

Hey Precious Son,

Sometimes it's just something out of the blue.

Mark at C and D Tire was cleaning out some stuff and came across some of the little building check slips that you guys leave on your night checks. He brought us the ones that you had signed on your shifts. I stood there and rubbed my finger across your signature and looked at the times.......1:33 a.m.,4:55 a.m., 3:09 a.m., 5:12 a.m...........and of course the tears just poured. I could feel you as I touched your name, I just need to see you son. You so loved the night shift. Do people realize that 24 hours a day you all are there, no matter what.

Thank you for being my son. Thank you for being you.


I love you.

Forever and Always, through eternity and beyond, I love you.

Momma

March 2, 2006

Matt... just reading some of the reflections folks have left...and I know I am so blessed to be one who knew you , for such a short time. Someone said it is not the amount of time you know someone, but the quality of time and how much you got out of it. Well, you made time spent with you worth it all. Just thinking about you....Love ya, and miss ya...Matt. Never, ever to be forgotten...

Bea

February 28, 2006

love you bro.
jess

February 23, 2006

To Matt's Mom,
I think of you and Matt ever time I see a Matt sticker on a car. The story you told about driving in rain and having a bad day and Matt being there with you. We love you and Matt.
P.S. Thank you again for the picture of Matt it means so much to me.

Lavada Vance

February 14, 2006