Page 42 - January 2018

Sweet shipment
Districts and kids collect candy for troops overseas
n BY ERIKA WURST
Two years ago, someone tagged Chicago Police Lieutenant John Garrido in a post seen on Facebook.
The post, lovingly written by the mother of a U.S. Marine, detailed her search for leftover Halloween candy to send to her son overseas. In the middle of Afghanistan, good candy was apparently hard to come by. Knowing the importance of a good snack, and in the spirit of giving back, Garrido teamed up with officers from the 16th District to gather as many way- ward Skittles, Starbursts and Snickers as they could get their hands on.
Around 40 boxes containing 150 pounds of candy were col- lected and shipped to the U.S. Air Force Base in Afghanistan, where the treats made their way into the hearts and stomachs of our military heroes — many of whom were New York police officers.
Weeks later, a photo of 16 smiling military members hold- ing boxes of their favorite snacks and giving thanks was sent Garrido’s way. His heart could have melted at the sight, and he knew he was making a difference, no matter how small it seemed at the time.
Then, tragedy struck. Six of the men smiling in Garrido’s photo were killed when the unit was struck by a roadside sui- cide bomb. You can hear the pain in Garrido’s voice as he talks
about getting the unfathomable news.
Despite the turmoil surrounding their platoon, the soldiers
didn’t forget the act of kindness displayed by 16th District of- ficers. The unit sent Garrido a folded flag that they had car- ried on combat missions as a way to give thanks to the officers back home who had helped them in their time of need. The flag now hangs on the wall at the 16th as a reminder of those whose lives were lost, and of the importance of always giving back.
42 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JANUARY 2018
Remembering the impact that the candy drive had on the platoon, Garrido has carried on the tradition each year since then. In December, the district, with the help of the 20th Dis- trict, collected 60 boxes of candy to send to troops at bases in Kuwait and Afghanistan. Community Relations Officer Melis- sa Agnew said the drive was supported by North Park Elemen- tary School, Cub Scout Pack 3958 and local businesses who share in their support of the military.
They mustered up enough candy to fill dozens of U.S. Postal Service boxes, and more than $500 was raised by the commu- nity to pay the $13 shipping cost for each box of candy to make the holiday a bit brighter for our military heroes. It’s a mission that Garrido plans to carry on as long as he can, and one that has proven to be just as important as the folded flag that now hangs on his station’s wall. d