Farewell to a Hero...

Thank you to all who attended the funeral of Officer Gary Skerski!!






















Massive Turnout for Officer Skerski's Funeral

PHILADELPHIA - May 12, 2006 - On Friday the City bid a final farewell to a man some call a hero, some call a devoted husband and father, and some call a good man - Officer Gary Skerski, badge number 7379. We mourn his loss as a City together, and will always remember that he gave his life so that others may live.

It was a painful scene as Gary Skerski's flag draped coffin was carried from St. Adalbert's Church. Thousands of officers from across the region and other parts of the country stood in salute. As for Skerski's family, his wife Anne, his children Robert and Nicole, we cannot bear as they do, the full impact of this tragedy but the City feels the loss as evidence by the many from all walks of life who showed up to pay their respects.

The funeral procession stretched 8 miles up I-95 as it made its way to Resurrection Cemetery in Bensalem. Motorists on the other side of the highway stopped to watch; one woman waving a flag. Overpasses were crowded with police officers and others standing in silent tribute.

Police commissioner Sylvester Johnson was overwhelmed by what he called one of the largest police funerals ever in Philadelphia.

Sylvester Johnson/Philadelphia Police Commissioner: "We in the Philadelphia Police Department appreciate that when other officers die no matter where they die in the U.S., it harms all of us and it hurts all of us and we all feel for it because we realize that the next person could be one of us."

Cardinal Justin Rigali, who led the funeral mass, said the entire community experiences the dreadful pain that afflicts officer Skerski's family and his comrades.

Cardinal Justin Rigali/Philadelphia Archbishop: "Any catastrophe like this, anything that affects the community in such a dramatic way, I would certainly want to be a part of it."

Skerski's colleagues say the public will never fully understand the depth of that loss.

Lt. Frank Banford/Philadelphia Police: "I love Gary, the entire squad loved Gary. If you knew him, you would love Gary. Gary would do anything for you anything."

Capt. Deborah Kelly/15th Police District: "He was everything to the 15th district. He was really the heart and the soul. He was an amazing man."

The chilling tragedy unfolded Monday night at Pat's Cafe when a shotgun-wielding bandit threatened to kill everyone. Patrons and workers understand, the killer not only took an officers life, he threatened the very freedom that they cherish. With brute force and violence, he stole even the simple freedom of being able to venture out to a friendly neighborhood bar.

Bill Parkin /Customer: "It's eerie just knowing that, that man, it's like he raped us. He just came in here and took over our domain, and it's wrong."

And the bartender who was there that night and did not want us to show her face tells Vernon Odom she'd have been killed if not for Skerski and his partner.

"To the family, to the wife, to the children: I'm here because of your husband, your father's a hero, your husband's a hero. My thoughts and prayers -my family's thoughts and prayers are with you the rest of your life."

And so it is that in his memory, other officers are sworn to carry on his work. And believe me when I tell you that there are many homicide investigators and other agencies helping them who are sworn to bring his killer to justice.


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