Goodbye Sgt. Bergeron, Thank You for Your Service

I haven't been able to stop crying since reading the newspaper this morning.  I don't know if I'm just really tired or if it's finally sinking in as I read the headlines this morning that one wife, two daughters, ten siblings and their families, thousands of police officers, fire fighters, EMS and friends now face living and working without Sgt. Joe Bergeron. 

JB and I have some ties to Joe that make it personal. As the EMS commander in Woodbury, JB works with the Police Officers and met Joe through a fellow office/paramedic and from continueing education at Century College where JB teaches.  Our Woodbury officers helped cover the city of Maplewood yesterday so the entire Maplewood police force could attend the funeral.  And my sister-in-law, Maggie, was Joe's niece.  Maggie's brother, Officer Duzan, spoke at the funeral.  He said, "If you ask any of my cousins, aunts, uncles, they would give you many reasons why Joe is their hero."  "My uncle's death does not make him a hero; Joe's life made him a hero." 

I think the pictures tell the story best; hundreds of police officers standing at attention outside the cathedral because the 3,000 seats inside were full, the flag held between two fire truck ladders, 400 police cars in the processional, people and children lining the procession route holding flags, a horse without a rider, Joe's wife and daughters holding a folded flag.  But the thing that really breaks me is the final radio call to a moment of silence followed by, "Rest in peace, Joey B. Maplewood squad 4357, badge 357, is 10-7.  End of tour May 1, 2010."   

Thank you to all of our service men and women who, even after watching and attending the funeral services for a fallen comrade, will continue to put their lives on the line to protect and to serve.  God bless you all.