New York – Thousands of mourners flocked to Manhattan to pay their final respects to NYPD detective Steven McDonald, a man who symbolized hope, perseverance, optimism and forgiveness.
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As previously reported on VIN News (http://bit.ly/2jKtZOT) McDonald was paralyzed in 1986 after being shot by a bicycle thief in Central Park.
McDonald astounded doctors who had told his pregnant wife that his injuries would prove to be fatal, and despite being a paraplegic and on a ventilator, he turned tragedy into triumph, forgiving the teen who shot him and becoming an emissary for peace and good will. McDonald, an active member of the NYPD, died at age 59 on January 10th, several days after suffering a heart attack.
McDonald’s funeral was held Friday morning at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown. A ten block long ribbon of blue uniforms, in some spots six or seven officers deep, lined the west side of 5th Avenue standing at attention as the funeral procession passed by.
Among those who eulogized the third generation police officer were Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill and McDonald’s son, Sergeant Conor McDonald of the NYPD.
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