Project Blue Light Ceremony and New Fallen Officers Monument

Project Blue Light Ceremony and New Fallen Officers Monument

Springfield, Mass. — The Springfield Police Department held a “Project Blue Light” Ceremony on Wednesday November 16th outside of Springfield Police Department Headquarters at 130 Pearl Street to remember and honor fallen officers. The Springfield Police Department also unveiled a new Fallen Officer Monument donated from the money raised from the “Light Up the Blue” 25-mile bike ride and 5K walk.

Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood stated, “The Blue Light ceremony honors those who gave their lives in the line of duty. The officers from Springfield are memorialized in our monument in front of the station. I was asked how I come up with different things to say at each memorial service, since we have a few throughout the year. Those on that memorial who have family and friends still in the area, and those co-workers who are in the area attend everyone. I believe it is not so much what I or anyone else can say but rather the service itself and the fact that these lives are remembered is most important. It is a service for the family and friends so that they realize no one has forgotten and they are heroes. Their lives meant something, their sacrifice meant something, they are held as heroes to those who still wear the uniform. We best remember those officers by the example we set every day. To be the best officers and have the best police department possible is best example of remembrance and sign of our loyalty to their memory.”

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno spoke and thanked those in attendance for coming together to honor and remember our brave and dedicated men and women in blue and their families. “We must always remember and never forget the brave, dedicated and compassionate police officers who lost their lives serving and protecting our community,” said Mayor Sarno. “Their families suffer every day, especially during the holidays with that empty chair at the table. May God rest their souls and my God continue to protect our men and women in blue and their families.”

Project Blue Light is a nationwide recognition of those Police Officers who have died in the line of duty. It began in 1988 when the surviving mother-in-law of a Philadelphia Police Officer killed in the line of duty told Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) that she would put two blue lights in her window to remember her son-in-law and her daughter who was killed in a car crash. “Project Blue Light” now burns bright in the hearts of nearly 15,000 surviving families of American’s fallen law enforcement officers.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi, State Senator Adam Gomez, City Council President Jesse Lederman and Councilors Tim Allen and Justin Hurst, Springfield Police Chaplin Fr. Bill Hamilton, members of the Springfield Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and Hampden County Sheriff’s Office, and many families, friends and supporters were in attendance, including Maura Schiavina, sister to the late SPD Officer Michael Schiavina who is one of the 17 names listed on the memorial monument.

Fr. Hamilton gave the opening and closing prayer and the golden voice of Springfield, Vanessa Ford, sang the national anthem.

Also on Wednesday in honor of “Project Blue Light” Monarch Tower turned blue in honor of fallen Springfield Police Officers. We thank and want to recognize Monarch Place and Paul Picknelly for this symbolic gesture. We will be asking residents to place a blue light bulb on the porch or in a candle in their window to show their appreciation for police officers throughout the holiday season.