I'm neither misinformed or trying to pick a fight. It is what it is. Every time it comes up, honoring Gary, you have points on why it shouldn't be done. Gary was a rare CRO. He actually cared about the community he worked for, sometimes more so than the people who live there.
I find it also hard to believe that as another poster said, that Gerry's sacrifice for this country has been forgotten about.The department as a whole, and every cop, remembers Gary and Gerry every time they hit the street. Go into any ditrict and chances are you'll see more than one locker adorned with the scholarship stickers.
As for giving me permission to start another thread...thank you. I was unaware of the fact that I needed your permission to do that or to say anything about Gerry. AND had I known I needed your permission to give a donation, I would have held mine back when I originally gave it...along with the stickers we all sold and have hanging everywhere. Next time I'll check with you first . Funny, I thought it was his coworkers who were the point men/women on this, but hey.....
BTW I worked with Gerry for a couple of years in the 26th. He was a good guy. A nice guy. A good cop, and I imagine a good soldier as well.

Pardon my smarminess. I just get very testy when people politic over dead cops. Good cops. With more commitment to the communities they serve than the folks who live there.

"Every time it comes up, honoring Gary, you have points on why it shouldn't be done."

That simply is not true. Not once did I ever say or even hint that Officer Skerski should not be honored. If you read the minutes of the NCA you would see that.

The disagreement comes with changing the name of Castor Avenue; Castor Avenue is already named after someone else. The NCA were not the only ones to say this. The NCA was not happy to take a position of opposition, no on is. But right is right.

Taking something away from someone else’s family and bestowing it on another family is like giving away used merchandise.

Gary and his family deserves better that that. Gary deserves something new that honors him alone.

There is a vacant piece of ground at Roosevelt Blvd. and Adams Avenue just up the street.

Nothing is stopping the City from taking it and turning it into Skerski Point Park or Skerski Park. I wish that they would.

No one is trying to diminish the memory any fallen police officer.

I knew Gary. He was a wonderful human being and a good cop. I did not know Gerry, but from what people have said he was too.

It looked to me that the 2nd Annual Beef and Beer for Gerry was a success.

What ever happens, it will be the decision of the City, and I doubt that anything Northwood Civic Association has said will make any difference to them. It is what it is.

BTW

There is a whole wall adorned with Officer Skerski memorabilia at the new Applebee on Castor Avenue in front of the New Target, between Aramingo and Richmond.

It's a Very Cool tribute.

A fair enough repy. I appreciate your taking the time to respond and being a gentleman on a topic that causes me to gnash my teeth quite a bit.

There is no need for anyone to nash their teeth when trying to memorialize a fallen officer.

Gerry Pelligrini now is memorialized with a picture of him on a wall in the 26th district neighborhood. If you recall, he had a close relationship with kids at a nearby school and raised the awareness of the plight of the children in Iraq who didn't even have shoes for their feet. The Philadelphia school children collected hundreds of sandals and shipped them to Iraq on behalf of Gerry Pelligrini. That's something the kids in Philly and the kids in Iraq will probably not soon forget.

Officer Gary Skerski will be memorialized in similar fashion all across the 15th district as well as his home neighborhood.

The idea of changing the name of Castor Ave. to Skerski Ave was dead on arrival, IMO. The woman pushing for this change of street name doesn't live in Philadelphia and probably did this as a knee-jerk reaction to his murder. All best intentions and hearts in the right place.

Knowing Gary Skerski, he wouldn't want that. He was a low key kind of guy and just wanted to help the people in the neighborhoods. He did this every day.

I look forward to a dedication of a plaque bearing Gary Skerski's name placed at Pat's Cafe on Arrott St. where he was murdered. This will be a reminder to all who enter that there truely are police officers who will give their lives to save another.

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United we stand. Divided we fall.

Remember Gennaro-Neighborhood Kid, grew up in Frankford, settled in Port Richmond, Phila Police Officer killed by terrorist in Iraq Aug 9, 2005 31 Years old

3rd Annual Gennaro Pellegrini Beef and Beer
Saturday Nov 3, 2007
National Guard Armory
Southampton and roosevelt Blvd
7 till
http://www.pellegrinischolarshipfund.com/

Tickets $25

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When the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truths

Don't Forget Come and shake a hand

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When the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truths

Its a fund raiser, everything donated even the beer flow

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When the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truths

Great to hear, hope you raised a lot of money, sounds like a great cause.