by KYW's Kim Glovas
Monday was graduation day for more than 150 young men and women of the Philadelphia Police Academy. The ceremony was held at McGonigle Hall, on the Temple University campus (see related story).
The graduates, crisp in their new uniforms, and sitting or standing at attention every moment, were ready when mayor Michael Nutter greeted them:
"Good morning."
(Cadets respond:) "GOOD MORNING SIR!"
The mayor was a little taken aback, but went on to praise the class's commitment to public service:
"We admire you, we respect you, we will do our best to serve and protect you as you are out serving and protecting all of us. Class 355, it is my pleasure to welcome you to public service in the greatest city in the United States. Congratulations."
Graduates and city officials were not the only ones in attendance. At least one representative from each of the families who lost a loved one in the line of duty was also present at the ceremony.
Larry MacDonald, father of Sgt. Patrick MacDonald, who was gunned down last September (see related story), says that seeing other families provides support:
"When you see them showing up at every event, and realizing that what they're doing is representing what their loved one did, you feed off of that. We're proud, we're just proud of our loved ones."
Anne Skerski lost her husband, officer Gary Skerski, last May (see related story). She remembers when Gary graduated from the academy:
"I can remember sitting there many, many years ago, and we were just married, so I know what they're feeling. They're feeling pride, God bless them, and I hope they stay safe our there."
The graduating class dedicated their public service to the memories of MacDonald, Skerski, and officers Isabel Nazario (related story) and Charles Cassidy (related story).
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