Message from the TSBA President on the Police Arlington Memorial

On Saturday May 16, 2009 at 1100 hours, there was a brief memorial service and wreath laying ceremony at the Police Gardens NYPD Honor Legion Burial plot located in the Cypress Hills Cemetery. This service was the the first of what we hope will be an annual event. The event was well attended by both active and retired members of the service as well as family and other civilians. After the invocation, Taps and Amazing Grace were performed. Then representatives from various fraternal organizations were invited to place their floral arrangements at the base of the pedestal. Organizations included The Traffic Squad, The Long Island Shields, New York City Patrolman's Benevolent Association, The New York State Fraternal Order of Police, The New York City Police Reserve Association and the 10-13 Association of Brooklyn & Staten Island. Some brief comments were made by Andrew Siroka, Vice President of the Honor Legion. Patrick Lynch, President of the Patrolman's Benevolent Association then made an eloquent speech outlining many of the reasons this site was such an important part of NYC History and NYPD History in particular. Finally, Mr. Dan Carione read the following paragraph from a turn of the century article written about what was then referred to as the "Police Arlington."

"It is natural that men who have lived and labored together in life should sleep together in death. Members of the police force are comrades. They have common duties and sacrifices, common joys and sorrows, joint hopes and ambitions. Misfortunes incident to life tighten the bonds of association. Comrades fall out of ranks through no fault of their own. Age weakens them, sickness disables and perhaps impoverishes them. Their kindred may have dispersed or died and to other pains are added the pangs of loneliness and a nameless grave. What a comfort it must be to those who alone await the grim reaper to know that they will not be forgotten or neglected, to know that the comrades who marched proudly and bravely at their side will keep their memory green."

All those in attendance received a post card containing the above passage on one side and the reverse had an artist depiction of how the monument appeared when the bronze statue of Patrolman Lester Lewis (TSBA Member) stood watch over the grounds.

Special Thanks to all the fraternal/line organizations who took the time to attend and an extra special mention of a few people without whose help the afternoon would not have been possible.

Father Frank
Mr. Set Agonian
Mr. & Mrs. Mitch Levey
NYC PBA Board & Mr. Al O'Leary
Lt. Pat Steffens
Sgt. Bob Ganley
Lt. Tommy Sullivan
Cypress Hill Cemetery
Joe Conway & Zenop Pomakian

Important Note: There have been many people interested in making donations towards the restoration of this historic site. At this time there is no organization entity collecting contributions. Therefore, any funds forwarded to this organization or the Police Arlington Rememberance address for the site will necessarily be returned.

If you are interested in more information regarding the history of the site or if you're interested in having your email address added to the rememberance of the Police Arlington in order to receive any information that may become available, you should email policearlington@aol.com.

More photos provided by John Valles - http://share.ovi.com/album/jvaindian.MetropolitanPol