By Katie Vasquez
The NYPD band performed while children played nearby at Public School 54, now known as Detective Rafael Ramos elementary school.
As the sign was unveiled outside the Bedford-Stuyvesant school, his widow, Maritza, was filled with emotions.
“It’s a very exciting day, obviously, because there’s a school that’s going to live on way past all of us, and his legacy will continue forever. But also sad and missing him,” said Maritza Ramos, the widow of Detective Rafael Ramos.
Detective Ramos was sitting in his patrol car along with Detective Wenjian Liu at the corner of Tompkins and Myrtle Avenue on December 20, 2014 when a man walked up to the patrol car firing shots and killing both.
“As we made that promise almost 10 years ago that we will never forget, we never will,” said NYPD 79th precinct commanding officer, Deputy Inspector Hipolito Gil.
Ramos was not only a police officer and father but a man of unwavering faith.
He served as an usher at Christ Tabernacle in Ridgewood.
“My husband was a Christian man. We raised our family, you know, our faith in God has always been very strong, and we continue, we know that God had a plan and here we are,” said Maritza Ramos.
“He stood not just in the frontlines as a police officer but also in his faith, always ready to help those in need as he did during Superstorm Sandy,” said Zachary Iscol, the commissioner of the New York City Office of Emergency Management, “and he was studying to become a chaplain in the nypd showing us that his mission in life was not just to protect but to heal.”
The students are still learning about the life of the fallen detective but the principal will be there to guide them.
“I hope they know, the amazing man that he was and how he truly believed in a unified community, that he worked really hard to ensure that the relationships were positive between NYPD and our schools and our communities,” said Principal Emma Velasquez of Detective Rafael Ramos Elementary School/PS 54.
As the years go by, his widow hopes seeing his name up on the sign will inspire these young children to help their community.
“It’s kind of a way for them to see police officers in a positive light, and that’s my goal for the children. You know, maybe one day they’ll decide I want to be a police officer,” said Maritza Ramos.