Jetting Through Life: September 2006

Friday Funny (v.39)

Gunman dies...

All I have to say is what the hell is wrong with society today????

BAILEY, Colo. — A middle-aged gunman walked into the high school in this mountain town Wednesday, fired at least two shots and took six people hostage before the situation ended with his death, authorities said.

Lance Clem, spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety, said the gunman was dead, but had no immediate details on his death. He also did not know the condition of two young girls who were being held hostage after the other hostages were released from Platte Canyon High School, but a Denver hospital confirmed that it was treating someone in critical condition from the scene.

Jacki Kelley, spokeswoman for the Jefferson County sheriff, declined to release details pending a formal news conference.

Authorities had what they described as “sporadic” negotiations with the suspect and urged him to contact them for more discussion. Officers eventually crept close to the building, and there were reports of an explosion inside.

A short time later, someone wheeled a gurney inside and took an unidentified person to a medical helicopter parked on the school’s football field.

Friday Funny (v.38)

Sorry this is late...

The Guardian - Movie Review

On Saturday we went to see a Sneak Preview of The Guardian with Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher. Much to my surprise this movie was excellent!

Brief synopsis:

After losing his crew in a fatal crash, legendary Rescue Swimmer, Ben Randall (Kevin Costner), is sent to teach at 'A' School, an elite training program for Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers. Wrestling with the loss of his crew members, he throws himself into teaching, turning the program upside down with his unorthodox training methods. While there, he encounters a young, cocky swim champ, Jake Fischer (Ashton Kutcher), who is driven to be the best. During training, Randall helps mold Jake's character, combining his raw talent with the heart and dedication required of a Rescue Swimmer. Upon graduation, Jake follows Randall to Kodiak, Alaska, where they face the inherent dangers of the Bering Sea. In his initial solo rescue, Jake learns firsthand from Randall, the true meaning of heroism and sacrifice, echoing the Swimmer's motto...'So Others May Live!'

I won't give away much, but the premise of the movie
Costner did very well in his role by comparison to his previous flops. Kutcher was very good in this movie. It was different to see him play a serious role.

Everytime I thought the movie was going to end it picked up with more plot to unfold. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did.

A thank you to all of our servicemen serving in the USCG. I have a newfound respect for your role in the military for civilians who end up in trouble. Thank YOU for jumping into ice cold water to save us.

Catching up...

Well it's been awhile since I have had an 'actual' post... Life has rendered me busier than I had anticipated. And the local happenings within my community made me push all of my day-to-day activities aside to remember the fallen.

Since my last post, my daughter, Em, has started kindergarten. She is enjoying every day. She loves her teacher and teacher's aide. She is going to school all day couldn't be happier.

I have had another birthday. I finally got rid of one of the roughest years of my life and have finally closed this awful chapter. I talked to my mother for the first time in one year for 20 minutes. I am still torn about my feelings regarding the conversation. She asked if we could 'start over', I said perhaps, but it would be on my terms and would take it very slow. If I call her back it would be 6-8 weeks...

We have finally bought materials to finish our basement!!! I am very excited! I will have a separate laundry room and will be moving my office down there. We are having friends stay with us over Christmas and they want to play video games *ugh*! I said you will need to finish the basement. I don't want two lumps sitting on my couch for a week!! We are anticipating to start the basement sometime this week, schedule permitting.

So as you guys can see I have been super busy!! I will try to stay on track with posting!!! Until next time!

Friday Funny (v.37)

It's been awhile! Hope you enjoy!!

A letter to a hero's son

I figured I owed this letter written to Eric Schroder to be posted along with the tribute to his father... God bless you and your mother, Amy during your difficult time.

Friday, September 08, 2006
Regina Brett
Plain Dealer Columnist

Dear Eric,

You won't remember much about your dad.

We knew him as Detective Jonathan "A.J." Schroeder.

You knew him as daddy. Those big hands that cradled you. That huge smile that hovered over you. That nearly bald head that matched your own.

You're just a peanut of a boy right now. Only 10 months old.

But for the rest of your life, you will grow up hearing that your father died in the line of duty.

One day you'll ask, What does that mean?

What is the line of duty?

You saw that line, although you won't remember it. You were so small.

The line of duty stretched for blocks. Hundreds of men and women in blue, in crisp white gloves, in shiny black shoes, young and old, black, white and brown. It looked like an entire army showed up at St. John Cathedral on Sept. 6, 2006.

If only you were older. You would have loved the police dog yapping and the horses stomping and the motorcycles rumbling.

There were bagpipes and drums, church bells then silence. It grew so quiet, as if the world stood still.

Oh, the tears. You made the toughest men cry. When they saw you enter the church they grieved for a little boy who would never know his daddy.

Somewhere in your heart you will remember him, that man behind the stroller, beaming more brightly than the brightest light bar on any squad car.

They called your dad a distinguished detective who never shied away from a tough assignment.

They said he was always about the mission of serving others.

They used words like integrity, brave, courageous, noble, valiant.

They said he was everything you could want in a police officer. Hard-working. Fair. Kind. Gentle.

They said he never complained and always smiled.

They said his life and death brought true honor to the slogan "Protect and Serve."

His life was a prayer, the one that says, "Where there is hatred, let me bring love, where there is despair, hope, where there is darkness, light."

The line of duty took him into the darkest dark. He brought light and hope to good people who live in bad neighborhoods.

The darkness didn't taint him. They said he treated suspects as if they were victims.

They called your dad a great officer, a great man, a joy to be around.

They promised never to forget him. They promised to be there for the rest of your life.

That means they will help you remember him. Any time. Anywhere. Your dad has hundreds of brothers and sisters at the Cleveland Police Department.

Your dad fought the good fight. And he won.

He didn't lose his life. He traded it for an eternal one. He fulfilled the greatest commandment of all: To love.

A love that is bigger than self. A love that demands sacrifice. A biblical love: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for a friend."

They will tell you that your dad died in the line of duty. The truth is, he crossed over it.

He still lives in your heart. Any time you need to see his smile, you can.

Just look in the mirror.

Donations can be sent to the Jonathan Schroeder Memorial Fund, c/o Cleveland Police Credit Union, 2301 Payne Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114.

Today, I remember Michelle Marie Henrique

I signed up at 2,996 by D.Challener Roe a site dedicated to remember all of the fallen from the September 11th attacks. I was given the name of Michelle Marie Henrique. After doing some research on Michelle the already hard day of September 11th became even harder. I knew no one in New York, Flight 93 or at the Pentagon that perished. I remember listening to everything unfold over the radio. But to read of an actual person with family who has been grieving for 5 years was very touching. I had a totally different outlook on that day. Up until my research began I had thought about how September 11th had made me feel. While I didn't realize how it made others feel. Mostly because again, I knew no one who was injured and it was my accounts of a horrific day.

Michelle was 27 years old when she was taken away from her beloved family. She worked for Fiduciary Trust International in Tower 2 on the 97th floor as an administrative assistant. I had the initial link from September11victims. From there reading what people had wrote about Michelle started to really sink in.

Her Prom date Chris Bennett wrote:

Michelle:

I just wanted to thank you for being my prom date back in 1990. We had a great time; you're a great girl and you will be truly missed. My thoughts are with your family. I will treasure the memory always.

Love,

Chris

I read this and cried... Here is a man saying good-bye to his prom date for the last time over a message board. Like he said, he will treasure the memory always.

Another message from Tony:

Michelle:

It's been years since we last saw eachother. In fact the sadest part of you not being here is I just found out about you a few days ago. I was very upset. The last time I saw you was at our graduation mass from high school. We even went to the senior prom in the same limo. You were a great girl and a great person. Fly to the angels!

Tony

A fellow Co-worker, Ed Schmitt:

I worked with Michelle At Fiduciary Trust and every morning I would walk past her desk on the way to our vault on the 97th floor and say hello to her over the cubicle wall where she sat.

On September 11 I only got halfway there-I saw the plane approaching out of the northbound windows of tower two. It was coming directly at us-and was going to hit right at our floor. It turned and hit tower one right in front of me. I immediately left-after first yelling at everyone in earshot to get out.

When I heard Michelle didn't make it it hurt me really bad-I wish I had gotten her out with me. She was so beautiful the way her eyes mathced the color of her hair-and she always seemed to be in a cheerful mood. People like that brighten up the lives of everyone around them and the world will be forever just a little darker without her in it.

The only thing I can do to honor her and all my co-workers memories is to live my life in a way that does them honour-because I have that second chance that so many like Michelle deserved more than me

Ed was one of the last people to see Michelle alive. And reading his recollections of that day four years later (from her site) were much too vivid. Ed remembers it like it was yesterday.

After reading the comments left on Michelle's page I began to do searches outside of September11victims.com. I found out that her boyfriend, Craig Castro, had purchased her an engagement ring. Craig was going to propose to her in December on her 28th birthday. Since then I am sure he has celebrated every holiday very differently. It is difficult to lose a loved one, let alone someone you want to spend the rest of your life with.

Michelle has family in law enforcement, her father retired city police officer, her brother Paul, a NYPD officer and his twin a detective for the NYPD as well.

I then found a picture of Michelle's father, George. He was featured on Peprallyusa, showing the Lives Lost on 9-11 are Etched in Memories and on Pysiques.

GEORGE HENRIQUE, Senior Investigator, NYC Board of EducationTattoo by Anil Gupta at Inkline Studio, Manhattan The portrait of George's daughter Michelle, who worked at Fiduciary Trust in the World Trade Center, is copied from a photograph taken at a wedding she had recently attended. The tattoo artist added symbolic elements to the image: the ends of the ribbon form Michelle's initials, MH, while the bell evokes lyrics from the Beatles song Michelle, which George used to sing to lull his infant daughter to sleep.

Clearly, September 11th created many tattoos. A tattoo is a memory that is taken with you and you carry it with you, forever. No one can take Michelle away from George, ever. You are keeping her memory alive.

I have began to think to myself... Did she at least get to call someone and say goodbye? Or did she have to go through this all alone?

Michelle, while I knew nothing about you... I pray for you, your family and friends. I hope that you are soaring in heaven known as a hero for sacrificing your life to the people of America. May you rest in peace and may your family seek solace one day in losing a remarkable woman. God bless!

Rest in Peace Detective Schroeder

Today Cleveland buried a hero.... I mourned a man I have never met. I cried tears of literal pain for a family that I know nothing of or about. I feel absolute sorrow for a wife and mother of a slain officer that walked the fine blue line of being a police officer. The reality is, every man and woman who takes the oath to "serve and protect" could be the one in that casket.

I logged online to see some very touching photos which tore my heart apart. To see a community come together to grieve for A.J. was very touching. As I am one of the people who knew nothing of him other than he was a police officer.

A.J. was escorted buy one police car in front of his hearse and four motorcycle units surrounding his vehicle. There were motorcycles surrounding the families vehicles and the procession in a number rumored to be upwards of 500 police units. On the overpasses fire trucks draped the American flag down in honor of A.J. Officers on duty pulled on the side of the highway standing outside of their vehicle saluting Detective Schroeder for one last time. Firefighters were standing on their rigs paying their respects as well, saluting a brother in blue.

There was over 1,000 law enforcement officers in attendance for the privately held ceremony in downtown Cleveland. The church was packed and the service was held over loud speaker so the remaining attendees could listen to the two hour ceremony outside.

Detective Schroeder is headed to Pittsburgh were he will finally be put to rest on Friday.

Amy and Eric, I may not know you, but my heart goes out to you and your family. It is devastating news and your husband will be sorely missed. One day you will be reunited with your hero, our hero. May God bless you and yours.

Another fallen hero...

The feeling of Cleveland this week is pretty somber. On early Thursday morning we lost a fellow Brother, Detective Jonathan "A.J."” Schroeder. Schroeder was a 10-year veteran of the Cleveland Police Department.

Schroeder volunteered to serve a "“high-risk"” warrant to a local scumbag, Wilson Santiago for beating a raping a friend'’s mother. With Schroeder leading the 3 other men to rush the front of the house with the battering ram left him vulnerable for a few moments. The remaining 9 officers strategicallycally placed around the house. They knocked and yelled, "“POLICE!"” Santiago cracked open the door, then slammed it shut.

Next, shots flew through the door and Schroeder fell. Two officers returned shots, as the other officers aided Schroeder to the back of one of the squad cars. One of the officers advised dispatch it was a chest wound and to have someone at the hospital waiting outside.

In the meantime, other police officers picked up Schroeder'’s wife and son and when they arrived to the hospital all she could see was the driveway full of squad cars with more than 100 officers outside, many in tears. At that moment, she knew it was severe. When she was told her husband had died, she collapsed to the floor.

While most of the Schroeder'’s family lives outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Ohio and Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol cars escorted Cleveland officers to pick up Schroeder'’s parents and in-laws. As the caravan returned to Cleveland, police from surrounding cities waiting along the highway and joined the procession. More than 20 police departments joined in the procession to the hospital to mourn a fellow brother.

Schroeder has left behind his wife and infant son, Eric. Eric will grow up knowing that his father was nothing but a hero. He will be remembered always. And will have many people of the community helping both him and his mom for as long as they shall need it.

While I never knew A.J. or his wife, I will always think of the three of them. I send my sincere condolences. And as a wife of a police officer I could be faced with this exact situation and it is scary. You never know when you will be taken to the heavens or hells of this world. A.J. is an angel to depart from this world much too soon. You will be missed by many and will never be forgotten. Brother, may you rest in peace.

A POLICE OFFICER'S PRAYER

Lord I ask for courage

Courage to face and
Conquer my own fears...

Courage to take me
Where others will not go...

I ask for strength

Strength of body to protect others
And strength of spirit to lead others...

I ask for dedication

Dedication to my job, to do it well
Dedication to my community
To keep it safe...

Give me Lord, concern
For others who trust me
And compassion for those who need me...

And please Lord

Through it all
Be at my side...

--Author Unknown

To read more about Detective Schroeder, please click on the following links below...

Cleveland Police Patrolman's Association

Officer Down Memorial Page

National Law Officers Memorial Fund

Fratneral Order of Police