Page 43 - FOP JUNE Newsletter

when she introduced her friend, CPD Sergeant and Ma- rine Unit Officer Elaine Stofergen, whom she worked with and was lost in a Department training exercise on June 2, 2000.
Following Gill’s tribute to Trooper Hale, Delgado ended with maybe the most poignant story of a fallen comrade. Delgado had talked to one of the daughters and name- sake of CPD Officer Irma Ruiz who used to brag on her children and go on about the responsibility of keeping children safe. On Sept. 22, 1988 Ruiz lost her life protect- ing children when confronting a heavily-armed gunman on a shooting rampage at an elementary school.
At the conclusion of honoring each fallen officer, an
Honor Guard member removed a white rose from the vase and held it up. When the vase was empty, Gaines hushed the crowd by singing American Anthem by Norah Jones:
All we’ve been given by those who came before
The dream of a nation where freedom would endure The work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day
What shall be our legacy? What will our children say? Let them say of me I was one who believed
In sharing the blessings I received
Let me know in my heart when my days are through America, America...I gave my best to you
That’s all there is to say about that.