| Memorial Ritual
From the Fraternal Order of Police Associates State Lodge of Ohio,
Inc.
For Our Departed Brother/Sister
First - Last Name
Name of Day
Month Day, Year
Funeral Home Name
The President, Chaplain and Secretary will stand at the head of
the casket. Other members will stand at the foot of the casket or,
if a color guard is desired, they could lead the procession into
the room and stand on each end of the casket, without blocking the
view of the family and friends present.
* The Permission of the family of the deceased must be granted
in order to hold the services.
Burial Ritual
PRESIDENT - Friends and Brothers and Sisters: We are assembled
here to show the last earthly courtesy to Brother /Sister _________________,
who is with us in spirit only. God, in his infinite wisdom has seen
fit to call him/her to His home in the eternal Heaven. We poor mortals
cannot see beyond the veil; we can only grope about for truth and
hope that we may find it.
Our Brother/Sister was with us hand and heart in this life, and
now that his/her breath is sped and his/her heart is stilled, we
look upon his/her face for the last time in this world. That we
may better offer our poor consolation to those he has left, we will
listen to our Chaplain, who will offer prayer.
CHAPLAIN - Brothers and Sisters, please join with me in the Lord’s
Prayer. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy
kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give
us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we
forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, Power and Glory
forever. Amen.
PRESIDENT - Friends and Brothers and Sisters here assembled, death
has come into our midst. It is but a warning of that which awaits
us all. Let us live so that when the summons comes to us we shall
await without fear the call to the evergreen shores of eternity.
Let our daily conduct be such that we can unflinchingly face the
Tribunal that must pass upon our earthly acts. Death levels all
ranks. The wealthy and the destitute alike return to the earth that
gave them birth. Under the green mounds of earth, distinction and
wealth are but hollow echoes. The icy hand of the Reaper reduces
all to a common lot - EQUALITY, but the spirit then receives its
LIBERTY to commune with like spirits in true FRATERNITY. We all
hope to some day reach the shores of everlasting life. To that end,
and upon this solemn occasion, let us resolve to act with INTEGRITY
towards all the world, that when our time comes we may leave our
brothers/sisters and our fellow men with even such regretful feelings
and such genuine grief as we feel at this moment.
Men come and men go, but the spirit goes on forever. We come into
this world innocent of all wrong, but in the daily struggle for
bread and the turmoil incident to business life, not infrequently
kindly acts that are natural to the heart of a man are forgotten.
We sometimes think that the world is centered upon us as a hub,
and if we radiate an occasional kindness in thought or action, we
have done our duty. But, brothers, sisters, unless we seize upon
each and every occasion to speak and act with kindness, we are neglecting
those things which will be the cornerstones in the temple of memory.
Memory of us after we have again become the dust that gave us forth
into being.
To the dear ones of our departed Brother/Sister, I have but little
comfort to offer. The wound that has been opened will not close
and heal to words nor yet to thoughts. Our Creator has not intended
that it should be so. Such occasions as this are for the living
rather than the dead. They are reminders that we may, some day,
answer the call. But God is good, and He gave it unto the lips of
mortal man to say, “Tis only a parting, a temporary parting,
to meet again and be separated no more.”
Let us take sad comfort in the fact that our Brother/Sister is
beyond the pale of suffering and free from earthly care.
PRESIDENT - (facing the deceased) Farewell my brother/sister, your
tour of duty on this earth is finished and may God reward you with
his loving care forever.
Brother/Sister Secretary, I now direct you to carefully enroll
the name of Brother/Sister _______________________, upon the list
of Brothers and Sisters gone before, that we may be ever looking
forward to their welcome when our time comes to pass away.
SECRETARY – Brother/Sister _______________________’,
name is written upon our memorial tablet, and inscrolled within
our hearts, and his/her memory will be dear to us forevermore.
PRESIDENT – Is it true. And knowing this, “Oh death,
where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory?” Brother/Sister
_______________’, we commend thee to the grave. Back to the
elements that gave thee nourishment in thy life. Sleep, Brother/Sister,
sleep. The fret and pain are stilled; thy voice is heard no more,
but the memory of the Fraternal Order of Police Associates shall
bring comforts to our hearts, for it will remind us of thee. Sleep,
Brother/Sister sleep!
CHAPLAIN - Almighty and everlasting God with profound reverence
we stand before Thee. We thank Thee for the friendship of our brother/sister
and we pray that you will strengthen us who are suffering through
the sorrow of our loss. May Your Blessings be upon the family of
this loved one and the friends and officers who know him/her so
well. Give them the courage and faith to bear their loss and grief
knowing their loved one has found eternal rest with Thee and remove
all rebellion from their hearts. Lord we pray that You will accept
our brother/sister to join the company of the heavenly Saints in
Thy Holy Kingdom forever. Amen.
PRESIDENT - Brothers, Sisters, let us now pass respectfully before
the remains of our deceased member and in tribute to his spirit
among us, place upon his casket a carnation, symbolic of a good
life.
All Brothers and Sisters pass before the deceased paying their
last respects and leave the room. The President will then offer
his condolences to the family of the deceased. |
