Fallen Heroes

April 4, 2009 started as a calm sunny Saturday in one of Pittsburgh's most hidden suburbs. Stanton Heights was a place that no one knew of, unless you lived there. Not so after the morning of 4-4-09, Stanton Heights’ quiet hidden existence was shattered by one single action by one single coward. I lived in Stanton Heights for 3 years back in 1998 to 2001. Whenever people used to ask where I lived and I said Stanton Heights, they would say where? I’d have to explain it was above Morningside which was above Lawrenceville, most times they understood but some remained confused. Now when you say Stanton Heights, you get a look of sadness and a quiet Ohh. This neighborhood is a gem within the city, quiet tree lined streets, neighbors who look out for one another. A city official on each block, firemen, policemen, housing workers or public works, they all call Stanton Heights home. When I moved into the neighborhood, I went unwillingly since I’d heard horror stories about living in the “city”, that feeling changed very quickly. I lived on a dead-end, tree lined street, with quiet neighbors and a back deck that looked over both the city below and the street that would become infamous. I used to walk my dog on those very streets every morning and evening, looking at all the homes, saying Hi to all my neighbors and enjoying my neighborhood. I’d been long moved out of the neighborhood on the morning of April 4th, a morning that rocked our city to the core. On that morning, a mother and son had an argument in their home, city police officers were called to help, that son waited to ambush those very officers sworn to protect him. Richard Poplowski shot and killed Officer Paul Sciullo II, Officer Stephen Mayhle, and Officer Eric Kelly. He also shot and wounded Officer Timothy McManaway in the hand, Office McManaway was trying to assist Officer Kelly who was wounded but alive when he arrived on scene. These 3 officers were called to do their job and they did so by losing their lives. The tragedy that unfolded that day is one that I will not soon forget. What also strikes me though is the way the city has come together to not only honor those fallen officers but to support their families in this great time of need. Even now, more than a month after the tragedy, you will see the black and gold fighting 5th t-shirts worn on people both young and old.
Houses in the Stanton Heights, Bloomfield and I’m sure Indiana show support for the fallen officers. Front windows covered with American Flags, pictures, and personal thank you notes for their service to our city. I am constantly awed by this show of support from people who probably have never met one another.
In the days following the tragedy American flags appear on what seemed to be each and every porch. Black and purple ribbons adorn the light post, parking meters and any other light post. Bike runs, shirt sales and more are all contributing to our fallen officers fund for the families of these brave men. American flags line the street where this all occurred in Stanton Heights, every yard but the home where the tragedy unfolded.
I have never met any of the officers but I thank each one of them for their sacrifice to protect us. I thank their families for giving their sons, brothers, uncles, nephews, husbands, fathers to our city for the ultimate sacrifice. Officer McManaway, who must live with those first images every day for the rest of his life, is also in my thoughts and prayers. I hope he is able to understand he did everything he could that day to save his fallen brothers.