Page 43 - May 2017 Newsletter

32nd annual Illinois Police Officers Memorial Day
For the ‘Grace’ of fallen officers
State police memorial is nothing short of ‘Amazing’
n BY MITCHELL KRUGEL
Remembrance and honor vibrated with the rat-ta-ta- ta-ta-ta-ta-tat trill of the drum roll Chicago Police Officer Joseph Gallardo pulsated when the Department’s Pipes and Drums accompanied at the 32nd annual Police Of- ficers Memorial Day in Springfield on May 4. Playing one resounding roll at the end of “Amazing Grace” seemed to emphasize the message of the day that the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Remembrance and honor stood tall when members of the Chicago Police Honor Guard lined the entry to the Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception where families of Illinois officers lost in the line of duty walked through for the service that commenced Memorial Day. Standing at attention for 20 minutes felt like 20 seconds because it confirmed to the families of fallen officers that they will never be alone.
Remembering and honoring filled the crowd of hun- dreds of law enforcement officers that included Lodge 7 President Kevin Graham, First Vice-President Pat Murray, Third Vice-President Jay Ryan and a significant contin- gent of Chicago FOP members dressed in their Class A uniforms. They joined the honor guard, played with the pipes and drums from the Department and Emerald Soci- ety of Chicago or just traveled to Springfield to accentuate the remembering and honoring.
Lodge 7 President Kevin Graham (center) with First Vice-President Pat Murray (second from right) and oth- er members of the Chicago FOP at the Police O cers Memorial Day in Spring eld.
ber everyone who could not be here,” President Graham stated.
Their presence not only remembered the fallen but also honored the families who came to Memorial Day to find a comfort that only police officers can provide them.
“They look at us and see their loved one in all of us,”
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“We will be here this year and every year to remem-
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MAY 2017 43