Remembering March 10, 1961

I am the daughter of Donald Crittendon, the officer killed in the March 10, 1961, shooting. I was only 3 years old and my sister was only 3 months old when our father was taken from us. I do not remember anything due to being so young, but the memory of my father and of that tragic event has been made possible because of the Southeast Missourian's news coverage throughout the past 50 years. My family appreciates the thoughtfulness of the Cape Girardeau Police Department for keeping my family informed of events that honor those fallen officers and our father.

Even though 50 years have passed since that tragic event that changed so many lives, my memory of my father is still very strong, thanks to articles such as the recent one that remembers that horrible day back in March 1961 when two escaped convicts went on a crime spree that took my father away from us.

JERI CRITTENDON STEWART, Columbia, Tenn.