MRYHA HONORS OFFICER MICHAEL L. BRIGGS
October 6, 2009
On October 17, 2006 the Manchester Police Department lost one of its finest Police Officers. Officer Michael L. Briggs had succumbed to a gunshot wound inflicted on him the day before while patrolling our city streets. I know how proud the Brigg’s family and the Manchester Police Department is of him, and how privileged I am to have served with Michael for so many years. It is because of Officer Briggs' legacy and what he has meant to me that I share this story.
Last month, Sean Sullivan, a board member of the Manchester Regional Youth Hockey Association suggested that our organization honor fallen Officer Michael L. Briggs by designating a hockey jersey numbered ”83" in his memory. Each of our Flames hockey teams will have a number 83 jersey to either be worn by a child of a Police Officer or by any other team player who would be deserving of wearing Officer Briggs' badge number in his memory. Having worked with Michael Briggs I witnessed first hand his professionalism, dedication to duty and above all his genuine passion for keeping Manchester a safer place. I can’t describe nor put into words the honor and privilege it will be for me to see my daughter Catherine and sons Michael and Andrew stepping onto the ice wearing Michael’s number 83 in his honor.
For many years my sons Michael, Andrew and daughters Catherine and Rachel have played youth hockey for MRYHA and the Manchester Flames organization. During those years they have worn many different jersey numbers 4, 10, 12, and 16, to name just a few. For me, I associated those numbers with Boston Bruin greats Bobby Orr, Jean Ratellle, Wayne Cashman and Rick Middleton. For them, their numbers never meant much more than a "lucky number" or a randomly selected number given out at the beginning of each season by their coach. One reason that little importance was given to the numbers they wore may have been that I always reminded them that they should play for the name on the front of their jersey, not the name or number on the back. That advice was until this year. This season that all changed. The number 83 that my sons Michael, Andrew and daughter Catherine will wear for their Manchester Flames team will represent much more than a lucky number or a past hockey legend. This year, their number will be worn as a symbol of honor, respect, and integrity that Officer Michael Briggs displayed in every aspect of his life. Above all, the number 83 will be a reminder that the courageous Police Officer that wore that badge number lost his life while protecting our community. For that reason alone, I will remind my children, and all who may wear number 83, that they should not only play for the name on the front of their jersey, they can now play for the number on the back.
