Statue Dedicated In Honor Of Fallen Heroes
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Two years ago, three Pittsburgh Police Officers lost their lives during a gun battle in Stanton Heights.
The ceremony began with a special Mass at St. Joseph's Church in Bloomfield. The statue dedication began around noon.
It was a bittersweet moment for the families of Paul Sciullo II, Stephen Mayhle and Eric Kelly on the second anniversary of their deaths.
"It meant so much," Greg Sciullo, Sciullo's brother, said. "It's hard to put words to it. We put a lot of time and effort into this project and the community came together and gave us the funds that we need and the support that we need and donated their services, put the mulch and the plants and everything like that."
It warmed the heart of Marina Kelly whose husband, Eric Kelly, was killed.
"It actually meant a lot for me knowing that everyone came together again and they brought in the money to raise for statue and just showing up in the middle of the rain and no one actually left," she said. "And I just thought it was a beautiful thing that everyone came together and was here just for that moment, for that time for our family."
Families, colleagues, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Police Chief Nate Harper and other public officials all heard the parish priest talk about how angels watch over all of us.
"I know one thing, angels are amongst us. Today, we come together to dedicate a memorial to our fallen heroes and the crowning piece in those memorial gardens outside is a sculpture of an angel," Father John Dinello said.
The statue will be a permanent monument to remember the lives of Officers Eric Kelly, Stephen Mayhle and Paul Sciullo II.
The community raised the $20,000 necessary to construct the statue.
The accused killer, Richard Poplawski, is still awaiting trial which is set to begin in June. Poplawski reportedly still shows no remorse for his alleged actions.
Judge Jeffrey Manning has rescheduled jury selection in Dauphin County for the week of June 6.
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