Regardless of your theological beliefs, this is the time of year to be reflective. To consider those things for which we are thankful. To contemplate what might have been.

It is a time to think about those who are no longer with us to enjoy this holiday season.

I think of Joshua Miller, the Pennsylvania State Trooper who confronted a deranged and armed suspect in a bid to save the man's kidnapped child. Thanks to the courageous efforts of Miller and his fellow troopers, the boy was saved. But Miller paid the ultimate price for his bravery.

This will be the first Christmas that Trooper Miller's three children will be without their father. Angela Miller will have to carry on their Christmas traditions without her husband.

Sadly, too many families of fallen officers are sharing the same experience this year, trying to find some way to celebrate the season in the wake of their lost loved ones.

A small gesture from each of us can go a long way toward easing the burden of these families, whether you are able to afford a financial donation or a simple note of condolence.

The circumstances surrounding each of these officers' murders are available through the Officer Down Memorial Page . Donations for the families of some of these officers may be made through the following contacts:

Officer Brandon Sigler - Mobile (Ala.) Police Department

Brandon Sigler Family

c/o Major Kara Rose

Mobile Police Department

2460 Government Road

Mobile, AL 36606

Officer John Pawlowski - Philadelphia Police Department

The John Pawlowsi Memorial Trust Fund

Police and Fire Federal Credit Union

901 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA 19107

Deputy Chad Mechels - Turner County (S.D.) Sheriff's Department

Chad Mechels Memorial Fund

c/o any Wells Fargo Bank branch in South Dakota

Sgt. Mark Dunakin, Officer John Hege, Sgt. Ervin Romans, and Sgt. Daniel Sakai - Oakland (Calif.) Police Department

To honor John Hege, see http://opoa.org/hege_donations.htm

Individual checks can be made payable to:

"Dunakin Children's Family Trust"

"Romans Children's Family Trust"

"Sakai Family Trust"

c/o OPOA

Attn: Rennee Hassna

555 5th Street

Oakland, CA 94607

Officer Eric Kelly, Officer James Mayhle, and Officer Paul Sciullo - Pittsburgh (Pa.) Police Department

Pittsburgh Fallen Heroes Fund

Greater Pittsburgh Police Federal Credit Union

1338 Chartiers Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15220

Det. Allen Pearson - Lenoir County (N.C.) Sheriff's Department

Katherine W. Pearson Beneficiary Account

c/o any Wachovia Bank branch

Officer Down Memorial Fund of North Carolina

Det. Marc DiNardo - Jersey City (N.J.) Police Department

JCPOBA/Marc Anthony DiNardo Memorial Fund

P.O. Box 17395

Jersey City, NJ 07307

Officer Tina Griswold, Officer Ronald Owens, Sgt. Mark Renninger, and Officer Greg Richards - Lakewood (Wash.) Police Department

Lakewood Police Independent Guild Charity Fund

P.O. Box 99579

Lakewood, WA 98496

Lakewood Police Benevolent Fund

c/o any Columbia Bank branch

Fallen Lakewood Officers Fund

c/o any Bank of America branch

Sgt. David Kinterknecht - Montrose (Colo.) Police Department

David Kinterknecht Memorial Fund

Montrose Bank

200 North Townsend Avenue

Montrose, CO 81401

Cpl. Mike Roberts - Tampa (Fla.) Police Department

Tampa Police Memorial Fund

411 North Franklin Street

Tampa, FL 33602

In the memo section of the check write, "Cpl. Mike Roberts Memorial Fund"

Patrolman Chad Spicer Georgetown (Del.) Police Department

Aubrey Spicer Fund

c/o Norman Spicer

Wilmington Trust Bank

139 South State Street

Dover, DE 19901

Officer Richard Crittenden North St. Paul (Minn.) Police Department

Richard S. Crittenden, Sr. Memorial Fund

Anchor Bank Heritage, North St. Paul Branch

2700 7^th Avenue East

North St. Paul, MN 55109

Alejandro Valadez - Chicago Police Department

The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation

1407 West Washington Boulevard

Chicago, IL 60607

Officer Henry Canales - Houston Police Department

Dep. Shane Detwiler - Chambers County (Texas) Sheriff's Department

Officer Jesse Hamilton - Pasadena (Texas) Police Department

The 100 Club

I hope that you will think of these families as you go about your business; that you will feel inspired to do your job in their memory, and honor them by coming home safely to your own loved ones. Perhaps you will find time to donate to one of these memorial funds.

I hope, too, that you will be here this time next year.

If you have the names of any other memorial funds for fallen officers, please include the names of contact people or organizations in the comment area below.