TRIBUTE TO OFFICER SHAWN B. SILVERA

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” Arthur Ashe

On September 6, 2005, Lino Lakes Police Officer Shawn B. Silvera was killed in the line of duty while assisting in a high-speed chase on Minnesota Interstate Highway 35W. Officer Silvera was struck by the suspect’s car after deploying stop-sticks. He died serving his community; displaying actions that typify what the thin blue line of law enforcement stands for – the threshold between order and chaos. Officer Silvera made the SUPREME SACRIFICE.

While Officer Silvera’s death was both sudden and tragic, his philosophy of living has inspired many to reexamine the value of life and the significant IMPORTANCE OF TODAY.

Officer Silvera was a man of integrity, striving to live a life that could make a difference. He savored life in the present moment. He IMAGINED GREAT THINGS and made it a reality to ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS.

Officer Silvera was a man of faith and a MAN OF CHARACTER. He pursued many goals and dreams with strong commitment and drive. He was a faithful husband to treasured wife, Jennifer; a dedicated father to son, Jordan and infant daughter, Madelynn. He was a loving son, a true brother and a loyal friend.

He had a compassionate heart, striving to serve in his marriage, with his family, and through his work. On an international level, Officer Silvera and his wife, Jennifer, served as Peace Corps Volunteers from July 2001-July 2003 in Honduras, Central America.

Shawn had a love for learning and was a true renaissance man. He was a talented MUSICIAN, who taught himself how to play several instruments and shared his music everywhere from churches to pubs to campfires. He was an ACCOMPLISHED PHOTOGRAPHER, also self-taught, and shared his photos with FAMILY and strangers through the Web site he created while pursuing his interest in technology. Shawn loved the challenge of learning, and never allowed his mind to become stagnant, or his hands to stop working.

Three days before his death, Shawn and his wife Jennifer discussed the topic of “BE HERE NOW,” a philosophy for living that they had read about and wanted to adopt as a philosophy for their marriage. This ideology encouraged them to make the most of their present days, LIVING LIFE IN THE HERE AND NOW rather than with regrets of the past or worries of the future.

This Web site was created as a tribute to honor Officer Silvera’s example of living life to the fullest each and every day and encourages us all to IMAGINE how living the importance of today can change us all.

BE HERE NOW.

“When your time comes to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home.” -Tecumseh