February Newsletter

Happy Valentines Day,

As I write this newsletter it is Valentine’s Day, so I hope you all had a wonderful day with your loved ones.  I find spending this day with my children or grandchild is the best.  Spending time with our family is so healing.

I am so blessed to be a part of your family by your being a part of the LAPD family.  I was pondering what to put in this newsletter as I wanted it to be a bit more than just what’s upcoming.  Listening to the sermon in Church this morning I knew what this newsletter was about.

1 Corinthians 12 tells us about the gifts we are all blessed with, not the same gift, different ones so that we can bless each other differently.  The LAPD is a body, all of you are part of that body, each of your gifts are instrumental in this body being alive.  The gifts that we can share with each other are healing although they are not the same.  Some can write newsletters, others can listen, others can just do, others become close friends, others receive as they are yet not able to give, some allow us to cry on their shoulders, some help build websites, each of us have a part of the bigger picture.

I hope this year your gift touches another, it always does.  I hope to see you at one of the events we have this year or a meeting.  I hope to hear the story of your journey, your healing, your pain, your joy.

I want to remind you also that we do provide a three day grief workshop, that if you haven’t attended, maybe this is the year.  It doesn’t matter whether it’s been less than a year or twenty, maybe it’s time.

Please remember Officer Gina Onweiler and her family in your prayers.  Gina lost her father this week and the viewing will be held on Thursday, February 26th with the services on Friday, February 27th.  Several of us will be attending the viewing at Shannon Bryan Mortuary at 137 E Maple Avenue Orange, CA 92866-1403 from 5 pm – 9 pm and services at St. Norbert’s Catholic Church located at 300 East Taft Avenue, Orange, CA 92865-4330 at 11a.m..  You are also welcome to attend in support.

Please remember that LAPD FSG Meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month.  For February it will be held on Tuesday the 23rd on the 1st floor vs the 3rd floor where we normally hold it.  You will also find our meeting dates in the Blue Line.  Remember the LAPPL always provide a scrumptous dinner for us.  Bless them for that.

LAPPL Spring Fling picnic has been put on hold until another date is found.  There was a conflict with the Elysian Park field.

Baker to Vegas is April 16th – 18th this year.  Make your reservations now. Many of us are arriving at the Hilton on Saturday and leaving on Monday.   If you have an interest this year, please let us know or attend one of our meetings.  We will be discussing the upcoming event.  The host hotels are the Las Vegas Hilton and the Riviera.  Remember, the rooms go fast.  You can go to the LAPRAAC website, click on Baker to Vegas and then Hotels.  You can make your reservation from the website.

We will not be attending Sacramento or Washington D.C. this year, fortunately, we have not had a line of duty death for 2009.  Some of the other events this year are the LAPD Memorial, Memorial Run, Celebrity Golf Tournament, LAPD FSG Golf Tournament, Father Mike’s Peace Officer Retreat, LAPD FSG Memorial, Jack Webb Awards, Blessing of the Badges, LAPD Women’s conference, and I’m sure I’ve forgot a few.

One last item I want you to know that you are very important and I have not forgotten you by not sending a card, you’ve been in my prayers.  As you know, I had a stroke in October, well, now I’ve been in a car accident, I hurt and am going through therapy to heal.  I am so hoping to get back on track.  Please keep me in your prayers. 

Love & Peace, 
Marijo