02/25/08
U.S.
Flag of Honor raised to commemorate Detective
Christopher Ridley at Mount Vernon City Hall
On
Tuesday, February 26, the Unites States Flag of Honor
was raised to half-staff during a ceremony at Mount Vernon
City Hall, commemorating Detective Christopher
Ridley’s service as a police officer, which
tragically culminated in his death as he
intervened in a violent aggravated assault in
progress that occurred in White Plains, New
York.
The history of the Unites States Flag of Honor began
shortly after the tragic September 11, 2001 attacks. The
Texas House of Representatives entrusted a United States
flag that had flown over the State Capital, to a local
Austenite, Chris Heisler. Like many Americans, Heisler
felt compelled to take action during a horrific time in
the United States history. With Flag in tow, he set out
for Ground Zero. Along the way, Heisler helped organize
one of the longest police motorcades in the history of
the United States.
At Ground Zero, the officers and Honor Guard presented
the flag to honor the fallen Fire Department and Police Officers to
New York’s then Governor George Pataki. The flag flew
over Ground Zero and an inspired decision was made for
the flag to continuously be used to honor all American
Heroes.
After joining the military service, Heisler carried the
flag with him to Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq to fly with
American Soldiers in combat zones. Upon seeing the flag
flying among soldiers in Iraq, command Sergeant Major
Denson named the flag the United States Flag of Honor.
Since September 2001, the United States Flag of Honor
has paid tribute to more than a thousand American Heroes
and continues to honor heroes all over the land of the
free and the home of the brave.
Hon. Mayor Clinton I. Young, Jr. said, "It is indeed a
tribute to have the United States Flag of Honor to fly
here in our great city. It is not only a testament of
Detective Ridley's service, his dedication to mankind,
but it is also a testament of the fine job Mount
Vernon's Police Department's men and women do on a daily
basis."
Police Commissioner David E. Chong said, "Today it is
fitting that a flag that is named the United States Flag
of Honor be raised at Mount Vernon City Hall. Mount
Vernon City Hall is the heart of this great city and in
the center of its heart will fly the United States Flag
of Honor to honor our city's son and hero, Detective
Christopher Ridley."
Chong concluded by saying: "I heard and read a poem the
other night at the Westchester Rockland Guardians
Dinner. It was in honor of Christopher Ridley and the
poem was about a Knight. How appropriate, that this poem
would be dedicated to Christopher, as our Police
Department’s unofficial logo and mascot is that of a
Knight. The poem is by Dean Darling, and it is titled
“Fallen Knight.”
The following is the poem read by Chong:
A KNIGHT HAS FALLEN
AND I DON’T KNOW WHY
THAT THE YOUNG AND COURAGEOUS
SOMETIMES DIE.
WE WILL MISS THIS PROTECTOR
AND GUARDIAN OF LIFE,
FOR SOMETIMES THESE THINGS BRING
THE GREATEST OF STRIFE.
MORNING IS BREAKING
AND GOD HAS OPENED HIS GATES.
THE SUN IS RISING,
IT WILL NO LONGER WAIT.
BUT I KNOW IN MY HEART
AS TIME PASSES BY,
THAT WE WILL REMEMBER THIS KNIGHT
WHEN WE SEE THE SPRING SKIES.
Prior to the flag raising, Danielle Scholar, a
spokesperson for the Ridley, Bouche, and Richter
families stated: "The family would like to thank the
Mount Vernon Police Department for honoring our son with
the United States Flag of Honor. We also want to
thank Janet DiFiore, the Westchester County District
Attorney, for the way in which her office has handled the investigation
so far. We would also like to thank the public for their
support and how you stood up for Christopher."
Janet DiFiore was in attendance but did not speak. Her
office, along with a grand jury and the White Plains
Police Department have an ongoing investigation
concerning the shooting.
The following day, the
United States Flag of Honor was escorted by Mount Vernon
Police motorcycle to John F. Kennedy Airport, where it
was hand-delivered to the Captain of American Airlines
Flight #1, who then departed John F. Kennedy Airport for
Los Angeles. The flag arrived at
Los Angeles
International Airport and was then handed to
members of
the Los Angeles Police Department by the Captain of
flight #1.
Detective
Christopher Ridley
Police Commissioner David E. Chong
addressing the press
Danielle Scholar reading a statement from the Ridley,
Bouche, and Richter families
The
Unites States Flag of Honor in its protective case
before the start of the ceremony
Detective Ridley's fellow officers watching as the flag
is raised in his honor
The Unites
States Flag of Honor flying at half-staff outside Mount
Vernon City Hall
