No end to grieving for fallen officers' families

On the last night in Washington, the McDonalds hosted a get-together in their hotel suite for everyone who had accompanied them.

As the sun set and the noise rose, their daughter Megan leaned against a wall and took in the scene.

Her mother, surrounded by Pat's friends, laughed as they recalled his meticulousness and the special formula he concocted for cleaning his motorcycle. Her father seemed happy, talking about the police and firefighters' Blue Flames football team, which dedicated the season to Pat.

Her brother's death was devastating, Megan said. "But all the love and support has really renewed my faith in the city of Philadelphia. That's what life's about. It's not about cutting people's throats to get to the top. It's about connecting and taking care of each other. . . . I felt it was my duty to come back and give back as well."

She has transferred to Drexel Law School. This summer she has an internship with the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.

"All these ceremonies can be annoying," she said. "But they create opportunities like this. Look at this. All these people are so awesome to be around. What if my parents didn't have that?"

Video interviews with family members and previous stories in the series are at http://go.philly.com/mourning

Contact staff writer Melissa Dribben at 215-854-2590 or mdribben@phillynews.com.