Police Officers Gather to Remember Slain NYPD Officer Rafael Ramos … Watch Funeral VIDEO Live Streaming

GOD BLESS OFFICER RAFAEL RAMOS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND MAY YOU REST IN ETERNAL PEACE …

This morning thousands of police officers have gathered at the Christ Tabernacle Church in Queens, NY to pay their respects and honor one of their own who was gunned down in the line of duty. It is believed that 20 to 25,000 police officers from New York and around the United States will attend the funeral.

“What happened to my father was a tragedy,” Ramos’ son, Justin, said in a tearful eulogy viewed by hundreds of officers in the street who watched on giant television screens outside the crowded Christ Tabernacle Church in Queens. “But his death will not be in vain.”

Ramos, a 40-year-old married father of two, was studying to become a pastor and kept Bible study books in his locker, his commanding officer said.

Who was officer Rafael Ramos:

Ramos leaves a wife, Maritza, and sons Justin and Jaden, the latter of whom recounted how he had to say goodbye to his father in an emotional Facebook post.

“(H)e was the best father I could ask for,” Jaden wrote after the shooting. “It’s horrible that someone gets shot dead just for being a police officer. Everyone says they hate cops but they are the people that they call for help. I will always love you and I will never forget you. RIP Dad.”

Justin, the older brother, spoke at his father’s wake at the church Friday, according to CNN affiliate NY 1.

“My father was a man of character. He was a selfless man,” the college sophomore said. “He always went above and beyond for his family, constantly putting everyone before himself. Dad, I’m forever grateful for the sacrifices you made to provide for me and Jaden.”

THE FUNERAL OF RAFAEL RAMOS – SAYING FAREWELL TO A NYPD HERO

Watch the funeral LIVE of office Ramos

UPDATE I: Police from New England show up in force to honor and celebrate the life of officer Rafael Ramos.

Justin Michaels @JMichaelsNews  ·  2h 2 hours ago

UPDATE II:  Yesterday’s Wake for Officer Ramos:

A sea of blue flooded the streets around a Queens church Saturday morning — thousands of police waiting to pay respects for one of two New York officers who lost their lives in the line of duty last weekend.

More than 25,000 police officers are expected at Christ Tabernacle Church in the Glendale neighborhood for the funeral of Rafael Ramos, the New York City police officer murdered one week ago.

A funeral service and procession for Ramos, 40, will start at 10 a.m. at the church, where he was a 14-year member. A police honor guard took his casket into the church.

Musician Joe Cocker Dies at Age 70 after Battle with Lung Cancer … Rest in Peace

Sadly, one of my favorite singers of all times has passed away … A Classic Rocker.

Singer Joe Cocker, known for his raspy voice and incredible music ballads that included “You Are So Beautiful,”  “Up Where We Belong,”  and his Beatles cover “With a Little Help From My Friends” has passed away at the age of 70 from lung cancer. Cocker’s singing career lasted more than 40 years as he was propelled to super-stardom when he released his version of With A Little Help From My Friends that went to number one in 1968. Many of you younger folks  remember it as the theme song to the TV show, the Wonder Years. However, it was much, much more than that as Cocker would perform the anthem song at Woodstock in 1969, see video below. On a personal note, I was too young to attend Woodstock, but that does not mean my older sister didn’t. Which might explain why my early introduction to music as a youngster, growing up listening to the Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplanes, Lynrd Skynrd, The Who, the Stones, Don McLean, Simon & Garfunkel, The Mama’s and the Papa’s, CCR, Bob Dylan and of course Joe Cocker.

Joe Cocker is survived by his wife, Pam, of Crawford; his brother Victor Cocker of Norfolk, England; his step daughter, Zoey Schroeder of Stevenson Ranch, CA and two grandchildren, Eva & Simon Schroeder. What a voice, take a listen HERE, we are going to miss you Joe, God bless and Rest in Peace.

The Sheffield-born singer had a career lasting more than 40 years, with hits including You Are So Beautiful and Up Where We Belong.

His agent Barrie Marshall said Cocker, who died after battling lung cancer, was “simply unique”.

Known for his gritty voice, Cocker – a former gas fitter – began his singing career in the pubs and clubs of Sheffield in the 1960s before hitting the big time.

He was propelled to pop stardom when his version of With A Little Help From My Friends reached number one in 1968.

He performed the song at the famous Woodstock Festival in New York state a year later.

‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ – 1969 Woodstock

Joe Cocker Obit:

“Joe Cocker is a legendary artist of rock and blues history and yet he was one of the most humble men I’ve ever met. His iconic voice will forever be etched in our memories and our thoughts go out to Joe’s wife Pam and his family at this difficult time. Joe will live on in the hearts of millions of fans around the world.” Edgar Berger, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music Entertainment, International, who had signed Joe Cocker to Sony Music Entertainment.

Joe Cocker was born May 20, 1944 in Sheffield, England where he lived until his early 20’s. An outstanding interpreter of songs, his successes include a Number One single in the UK in November 1968 with his version of the Beatles’ ‘A Little Help from My Friends’. Joe’s career took off considerably after he performed this song at the Woodstock Festival in August 1969.

Joe enjoyed long walks in the mountains with his dogs, fly fishing in the Black Canyon, playing snooker with friends and growing tomatoes in his greenhouse year-round.

Joe Cocker is survived by his wife, Pam, of Crawford; his brother Victor Cocker of Norfolk, England; his step daughter, Zoey Schroeder of Stevenson Ranch, CA and two grandchildren, Eva & Simon Schroeder.

A private memorial is planned. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Cocker

Kids’ Foundation, P.O. Box 404, Crawford, CO. 81415. Read More

‘You Are So Beautiful’

Musician Joe Cocker dead at age 70.

Cocker, a song interpreter more than a songwriter, first became known through his hit cover of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends,” and a characteristically manic performance at the first Woodstock festival in 1969. His raucous “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” tour of 1970 produced a film and a recording that went gold.

He had a top 10 hit in 1975 on the aching ballad “You Are So Beautiful,” with his voice cracking on the final emotional note and won his first Grammy Award in 1983 for his “Up Where We Belong” duet with Jennifer Warnes, which was the theme of the movie “An Officer and a Gentleman.”

Cocker, who received an Order of the British Empire in 2011 for his contribution to music, released 40 albums and continued to tour after the hits dried up.

Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes: ‘Up Where We Belong’

Ken Weatherwax, Who Played Pugsley on the 1960′s TV Series “The Addams Family” has Died at Age 59

Ken Weatherwax, who played Pugsley on the 1960′s TV series ‘The Addams Family’ has passed away at the age of 59. His niece, Shanyn Vieira, confirmed on her Facebook page that Weatherwax died from a heart attack. Weatherwax was found at his home in California on Sunday.

Weatherwax died of a heart attack at his Box Canyon, California, home over the weekend, said Joey D. Vieira, his half brother. Weatherwax’s body was found on Sunday.

Pugsley, the son of Gomez and Morticia, was a member of the family of macabre oddballs in the television series, which aired on ABC from 1964 to 1966 with its familiar, finger-snapping theme song.

 Ken Weatherwax of TV’s Addams Family has died:

Besides acting on the Addams Family, which was based on the merrily macabre New Yorker cartoons by Charles Addams and ran on ABC for two seasons beginning in 1964 – Carolyn Jones and John Astin starred as Pugsley’s parents, Morticia and Gomez Addams – Weatherwax served in the Army and worked for Universal Studios as a grip, said his niece, Shanyn Vieira.

Former Mayor of Washington, DC Marion “Mayor for Life” Barry Dies at 78

Marion Barry dead at age 78.

Marion Barry, the former mayor of Washington, DC has passed away at the age of 78. Hospital spokeswoman Natalie Williams said Barry arrived at the hospital around 12:30 a.m. and died at 1:46 a.m. He had been released from Howard University Hospital on Saturday following a brief stay. There was no cause was given, but he had suffered from many health problems over the years, including diabetes, prostate cancer and kidney ailments. Barry was married four times and is survived by one son, Marion Christopher Barry.

Barry was first elected mayor in 1978, then re-elected in 1982 and 1986. However, Barry was probably most famous when he gained international notoriety in 1990 when he was videotaped in an FBI sting smoking crack in a downtown Washington hotel room with a female friend.  He was convicted on one count of drug possession and sentenced to six months in prison. Unbelievably, after getting out of prison, Barry was elected to a fourth, and final, term as mayor in 1994. It probably spoke more to the disarray of DC than anything else.

Former District of Columbia Mayor Marion Barry, whose four terms were overshadowed by his 1990 arrest after being caught on videotape smoking crack cocaine, died Sunday morning. He was 78.

Barry D.C. council spokeswoman LaToya Foster says he died shortly after midnight Sunday at a hospital in Washington. He had battled kidney problems stemming from diabetes and high blood pressure and underwent a kidney transplant in February 2009.

But he gained international notoriety in 1990 when he was videotaped in an FBI sting smoking crack in a downtown Washington hotel room with a female friend. He was convicted of a single count of drug possession — jurors had deadlocked on most counts — and sentenced to six months in prison.

Despite the embarrassment, Barry’s political career was far from over. In 1992, he made it back to city government, winning a council seat representing the poorest of the city’s eight wards. That victory helped propel him to a fourth, and final, term as mayor in 1994.

UPDATE I: Barack Obama paid tribute to the late mayor:

Dude, really? I guess if you overlook that little crack thing. (VIDEO)

President Obama on Sunday paid tribute to the late Marion Barry, saying the former Washington, D.C., mayor and councilman made a mark fighting against poverty and spearheading other initiatives that earned him the respect of his city.

36 Year Old Rob Bironas, Ex-Tennessee Titans Kicker, Killed in Car Crash in Nashville, TN … Rest in Peace (Update: Reported Missing Prior to Fatal Accident)

SAD NEWS FROM THE NFL …

36 year old Rob Bironas, former kicker for the Tennessee Titans, was killed in an overnight car crash in Nashville, TN. According to accounts, Bironas was involved in a single vehicle crash in the 800 block of Battery Lane around 11 p.m. Saturday when he lost control of his SUV, went off the road and hit a line of trees before coming to a stop upside down in a culvert. The accident occurred less than a mile from his home. Metro Police spokesman Don Aaron  said there was no evidence of alcohol on the scene. Rob Bironas was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Rob Bironas was a long time fan favorite for the Titans. Bironas kicked for the Titans from 2005 until 2013, when he was released on March 19, 2014 prior to the 2014 season.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Rob Bironas. May the peace of the Lord be with you during these difficult times. He was one of the good guys.

January 29, 1978 – September 20, 2014, RIP

Former Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas was killed in an overnight car crash in Nashville, Tenn.

He was 36.

According to Metro police, Bironas was involved in a single-vehicle crash in the 800 block of Battery Lane around 11 p.m. Saturday.

Bironas lost control of the SUV he was driving while traveling at a high rate of speed, and the vehicle went off the road and hit several trees before ending up in a drainage culvert, upside down.

Bironas was transported Vanderbilt University Medical Center and pronounced dead on arrival.

Rob Bironas Twitter:

Facebook – Rob Bironas:

It is with heavy hearts that we confirm the passing of our friend, Rob Bironas. We appreciate your respect for the family’s privacy and your prayers at this time.

ESPN: Former Titan Rob Bironas dies.

Metro Nashville Police said Bironas, 36, lost control on a curve in his 2009 GMC Yukon Denali and crashed after 11 p.m. less than a mile from home. Police said in a statement on the department website that his SUV was speeding when it went off the road and hit a line of trees before coming to a stop upside down in a culvert.

Bironas was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Police said there was no evidence of alcohol or drugs at the scene.

The Titans released Bironas in March after nine seasons. The Tennessean reported Bironas had worked out earlier this week for the Detroit Lions and for Tampa Bay during the offseason.

Bironas married Rachel Bradshaw, daughter of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, in June. Police spokesman Don Aaron said a police chaplain was with her after the crash

Tennessee Titans Release Statement:

 ”We are deeply saddened to hear the tragic news from last night about Rob Bironas. Rob made a significant impact as a player in his nine years with the team and more importantly touched many lives in the Nashville community off the field. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Rachel, and his family during this very difficult time.”

UPDATE I: The Tennessean – Wife of Rob Bironas reported him missing Saturday night.

Rob Bironas’ wife, Rachel Bradshaw, did not realize her husband had left their Nashville home Saturday night, according to police records.

Former Titans kicker Bironas was killed in an overnight car crash in Nashville. He was 36. According to Metro police, Bironas was involved in a crash in the 800 block of Battery Lane around 11 p.m. Saturday.

Bradshaw called police Saturday night to report her husband was missing. She told a police officer that she and her husband had been watching a movie earlier that night at their home with a female friend.