Page 40 - October 2018 FOP Magazine

Chicago Police Officers began the honor of calling up family members of fallen officers to read their names at the Chicago Police Memorial Founda- tion Candlelight Vigil.
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names, each representing a story of sacrifice.
“These are all heroes who we honor tonight,” Chicago Police
Department Chaplain Dan Brandt told the audience. “They’ve laid down their lives for others, not by choice. Their lives were not, in most cases, offered up but, rather, taken. I always like to make that distinction when someone says that an officer gave a life in the line of duty. I always think, ‘No, they didn’t give their life, their life was taken. It was stolen from them and their fam- ilies.’”
Since its inception, CPMF has given nearly $10 million to the
With the threat of rain forcing the ceremony inside the United Club at Sol- dier Field, blue glow sticks were used to illuminate the room and honor the fallen.
families of officers killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty. That amount includes $2 million to support 43 children of fallen and injured officers. CPMF Executive Director Phil Cline received praise for his vision to start the organization, but he made it clear that all the focus should be on the officers and the survivors who miss them dearly each and every day.
“This is the most important event on our calendar,” Cline said to the audience, which packed Soldier Field’s United Club. “The vigil in so many ways is the embodiment of our mission to never forget. We have created more than a memorial. We have created a family.”
40 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ OCTOBER 2018