Watchung Police Department, New Jersey
End of Watch Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Reflections for Police Officer Matthew J. Melchionda
Lynn! I am sorry I didnt get to write on here on the 8th, but I know you know you still heard from me on that day. In speaking with you, I know the day does not get any easier for you and it saddens me to see your heart break. I know all too well your pain and mine has been 5 years. Unfortunately sweetheart, it doesnt get any better. You and Matt were so lucky to have found each other. Some people dont find the kind of love you two shared in a lifetime. You were the last person Matt loved and he chose you to spend his life with and he passed away a very happy man. That is one thing you can be thankful for from this tragedy. He did a job he loved and was married to a woman he loved. I know I said this to you before, but I wish I knew Matt! From all your stories he sounds like such a wonderful man. He is a hero and you now have such a special guardian angel in heaven always with you. I know no matter what you do or where you go in life, Matt never leaves you and you will always always love him. As always, I am thankful for our bond and our friendship and I will continue to ALWAYS be here for you.
xo, Denise
Denise Zimmerman
Surviving Spouse of NJ State Trooper Bert Zimmerman
March 13, 2009
Dear Matthew:
You have not been forgotten. So many who knew you have taken such heartfelt steps to remember you. I was stopped by a Somerville Police Officer today. He knew you and went to the academy with Dave. He carries your mass card in his vest every day. I will never forget his kind words and the sincerity in his asking how we were doing. Such a gracious young man. Somerville Police should be proud to have such a fine young man on the force.
I wish you were here with all my heart and soul.
I love you still and always will,
Mom
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Jane Melchionda
Matthew's Mom
March 11, 2009
Matt: It's hard to believe that 3 years have gone by. I hope you're watching from above and know how much you are missed by all who knew and loved you. We think of you every single day, always with a wonderful memory. You made Lynn so happy and brought so much happiness to our family. May you continue to rest in peace, as we continue to honor and remember you. God Bless.
Laura & Pete Avalos
sister and brother in law
March 9, 2009
Matt,
I think about you each and every day, but especially so today. I hope you know what an incredible impact you have made upon all of us and although it was only for a short time, I am proud that you are part of our family. You have made my little sister the happiest person on earth. Please continue to watch over her and guide her as the pain has not ceased.
I only wish you were here today to see your nieces and nephews grow up. We continue to share stories to them about you and will forever remember you as a true gentleman and a hero. I miss you Matt!!!
Love,
Denise
Denise
sister-in-law
March 8, 2009
Dear Matt:
I just wanted to thank you on the anniversary of your ultimate sacrifice. You will NEVER be forgotten.
You are a very special person and I was blessed to know you.
I shall pray for your family on this special day and throughout the year to come.
Anonymous
March 8, 2009
Uncle Matt,
A day does not go by that we do not think about you. We really do miss you. You were so much fun and such a great Uncle. We wish we had more time with you. We hope that you really can hear us when we talk to you through our lights in our rooms. We know that you are watching over us and that you take care of us every day. We love you and miss you.
Love, Carly and Michael
Anonymous
March 8, 2009
Matt,
Thinking of you everytime I put the uniform on. Your friendship is always strong with me and you'll never be forgotten.
John
Officer John Bojtos
Friend, Colleague, Classmate 23-99
March 8, 2009
Your heroism and service is honored today, the third anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer who was murdered in the the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.
Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered. May your memory continue to inspire and your spirit continue to soar.
To Matt's mom: I share your anquish in losing a beloved child and understand the meaning of a life forever altered.
From reading the many loving reflections, I can see that Matt was an amazing young man who is loved and missed by so many. I hold you in my heart's embrace today.
Rest In Peace, Matt.
Phyllis Loya
Phyllis Loya
mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater
March 8, 2009
Matt,
I can't believe it's been 3 years. We miss you so much. I'm always reminded of you. So many little things and usually they always make me laugh :) Thanks for being here in spirit.
Your family is in my prayers today and always.
Officer Jeanne-Marie Mocarski
BHPD
March 8, 2009
My thoughts and prayers are with your loved ones and friends on this anniversary of your EOW. Continue to keep watch over them and those still out on patrol watching over the Thin Blue Line. You will never be forgotten.
James Sheppard
Father of Sgt. Jason L. Sheppard EOW 12/7/06
March 7, 2009
Dear Matt:
Missing you with an unending ache in my broken heart.
After three years the pain has not diminished but seems to
worsen with each day that passes.
I love you,
Mom
xoxoxoxoxo
To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent
people and the affection of children, to earn the
appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of
false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in
others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a
healthy child, a garden patch... to know even one life has
breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have
succeeded!
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Anonymous
March 6, 2009
Hello Lynn....I just wanted to stop in on Matt's page and let you know that I am thinking of you as the 3rd anniversary passes you losing your husband. I check in on a few officer's pages every now and then that truly break my heart. Anyone can see how much you two loved each other by what your friends have said on here. You two were so blessed to have found each other and that type of love is rare. Please know that so many people are thinking of you and Matt.
Jennifer
citizen
Anonymous
March 5, 2009
Matt,
Soon it will be three years since I last heard your voice and not a single day goes by that I do not think of you. We shared so much in common....yet exactly how much I didn't realize until you were gone. I miss our converstaions about politics, music, current events, sports, food, wine and I especially miss how much we enjoyed teasing my sister....your mom....Jane.
Matt, you were a very special person....to me....your brother David and your mom. As we approach the third anniversary of your passing I want you to know you will always be in my heart and I pray each night that the day will come when we are together again. I love you and miss you Matt.
Uncle Ralph
Ralph J. Shenyo
Matthew's Uncle
March 4, 2009
Lynn, I am so proud of you! You are such a strong person and I don't know how you do it sometimes! I see myself in you in so many ways watching everything you have to go through since losing Matt. I just want to protect you from so much but I know you are such a strong person! It was so great seeing you again today! We always seem to pick up right where we left off! I love the time we get to spend together! Listening to you talk about Matt, I know he is always in your heart and NEVER will be forgotten. You ALWAYS have a friend in me and just remember a lot of what I said about what we talked about today and everytime we talk. xoxo Denise
Denise Zimmerman
Surviving Spouse of NJ State Trooper Bert Zimmerman
March 1, 2009
ALMOST 3 YEARS BROTHER, BUT STILL NOT FORGOTTEN! KEEP WATCH OVER US TILL WE MEET AGAIN! MY THOUGHTS GO OUT TO LYNN AND THE REST OF YOUR FAMILY
P.O.
NJSP
February 22, 2009
I get on this website everyday and read about the men and women that have lost there lives in our line of work. For some reason reading the reflections of Officer Melchionda got me choked up. Matthew sounded like the type of guy that led a wonderful life and blessed others with the grace of his presence. You gave a sacrafice to keep the citizens of your town safe and for that I salute you my brother in blue.
Anonymous Deputy
Deputy
Harris County Sheriffs Office
February 1, 2009
I think of you often Matt! God Bless!
Trooper
January 30, 2009
The Year Before Last
By Unknown
The holiday season approaches,
and with it comes the New Year.
Although for me time passes slowly,
New Year’s Day rings in quickly.
I dread New Year’s Day
because they will look at me
in a terribly strange way
when I get misty-eyed,
and talk about something you had done.
After you first left me,
they reasoned when I cried,
“He’s only been gone a few months.”
And I would catch that look of
understanding in their eyes,
and found some comfort that they knew.
But on last New Year’s Day,
my first thought upon awakening was,
Oh God, my son died last year,
not just a few months ago, not even this year
but last year.
He will never live in this year.
They didn’t understand, they didn’t reason,
that last year, for me, the loss was still new.
They thought, “It happened last year,
so long ago, why does she cry?”
I could see it in their eyes.
This New Year’s Day, it wasn't different?
My first thought upon awakening was,
Oh God, my son died the year before last
not a few months ago, not his year or even last year,
but the year before last?
He will never live in this year.
Will they even listen, should I not look them
in the eyes, for fear that I shall see,
“Why is she still crying? It happened so long ago,
it was the year before last.”
Those words that we use
to describe the passage of time,
a few months, this year.
Last year, the year before last.
They don’t know that time stands still for me.
Will they understand that’s why I cry?
Don’t they know
My son just died.....
The year before last?
Anonymous
January 1, 2009
Matthew:
Missing you always but espeically at Christmas. How you loved my Christmas dinners. You will be with us as we gather and remember.
The mention of your name may bring tears to my eyes - but it never fails to bring music to my ears. I never want to be kept from hearing the beautiful music of your name or memory. It soothes my broken heart and fills my soul with Love.
Always remembered and never ever forgotten, my son, Matthew. I love you with all my broken heart.
Mom
XOXOXO
Jane Melchionda
Mother of Fallen Officer Matthew Melchionda
December 23, 2008
Officer Melchionda,
Thank you for watching over us everyday. You will never be forgotten! May god bless you and your family!
Warren Twp. PD
Anonymous
November 12, 2008
Matt,
You are missed every day. Thank you for watching over us.
"With every friend I love who has been taken into the brown bosom of the earth a part of me has been buried there; but their contribution to my being of happiness, strength and understanding remains to sustain me in an altered world."
- Helen Keller
Officer Jeanne-Marie Mocarski
BHPD
October 31, 2008
Matthew:
Three years ago today, we were all getting ready to celebrate your marriage. It was a glorious day with bright sunshine and not a cloud in the sky. Little did we know that just more than five months later we would be brokenhearted. Today is bright and sunny and not a cloud in the sky but without your smile and laughter, the sun doesn’t shine so brightly and the sky will never be quite as blue again. We miss you so terribly. We will never forget your wit and intelligence and that laugh of yours - it was just the best.
You will always be remembered by those who loved you and always will.
With love only a mother can know,
Mom
An Irish Blessing:
May the good earth be soft under you
When you rest upon it
And may it rest easy over you
When, at the last, you lay out under it.
And may it rest so lightly over you
That your soul may be out from
Under it quickly, and up, and off,
And be on it’s way to Heaven.
Jane Melchionda
Matt's mother
September 17, 2008
There is not a day that goes by where you and your family are not in my prayers...I am forever grateful for the friendship you and Lynn have given to both Louis and I.
Sleep Well...
Anonymous
September 2, 2008
Matt,
I never got the chance to meet you. My brother in-law Rob works with you wife. Everytime I vist their home I see your beautiful wedding photo on their refrigerator. I always pause for a minute and pray. May god keep you safe up there. Keep watching over us down here. Your brother always.
PO.Kalyoussef #833
Emerson Police Dept
August 8, 2008
Hey pal, been thinking about you a lot lately. I hope that you are well and watching over us. I know that you are "helping" me along through everything going on. Take care brother. Still missing you buddy.
LD
Friend
July 9, 2008