Deceased Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Patrick Ambroise – “May the Life I Live Speak For Me!”

Judging from the steady stream of dignitaries, colleagues, family and friends, it was very evident of the life that Trooper Patrick Ambroise lived.

May the life I live … speak for me…
May the service I give … speak for me…
When I’ve done the best I can…
and my friends don’t understand…
May the life I live … speak for me…
“Consolers”

As drums played a solemn beat, a black Cadillac carrying the body of Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Patrick Ambroise passed under a large American flag Sunday and stopped outside the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Inside, more than 2,500 people waited to pay their respects to the fallen trooper, who died on duty May 15 in a fiery crash on Florida’s Turnpike. He was 35 years old.

The memorial began with Hymn 527, The Lord Is My Shepherd, sung in French. The voices of his church filled the auditorium while his picture looked down from projections on giant screens.

Then one by one, those who were part of Ambroise’s life took the stage.

After Sunday’s ceremony, Ambroise’s body was taken to Dade Memorial Park, where family members and law enforcement officers stood under what little shade they could find. Sobs broke out as troopers folded the flag on top of Ambroise’s casket. A bagpipe began to play, and Miami-Dade helicopters thundered overhead.

Dispatchers performed a final roll call, calling out Ambroise’s identification number, 1233, three times. After hearing no reply, the dispatcher announced: “1233 has been retired from service. May he rest in peace.”

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