Page 45 - July 2017 Newsletter

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Hug it out
Young girl shares hugs of support with CPD of cers
n BY DAN CAMPANA
A little girl with a big heart arrived in Chicago in June with a simple mission: to hug a Chicago Police Officer.
Forget just one, or even two — seven-year-old Rosa- lyn Baldwin ended up giving out a bunch of hugs as she greeted CPD bike patrol and mounted patrol officers near Maggie Daley Park on June 12 as part of her quest to give a supportive embrace to police in every state across the country.
The Chicago stop marked Rosalyn’s 16th state on a tour inspired by tragic events in Dallas and Baton Rouge during the summer of 2016.
“I want to make them feel better,” Rosalyn told report- ers.
Rosalyn’s parents couldn’t deny their daughter when she first presented the idea of traveling the United States to show appreciation to police officers. Displayed on the website which chronicles her trip – rosalynloves.com – are the words that said it all to her family: “I know I’m a little girl...but I have a big heart.”
A mission of love has followed ever since, with visits to several states in the Midwest and Southeast. Rosalyn’s visit to Chicago – the final stop in the tour’s first phase – included a chance to see the City from high above on the Willis Tower Skydeck. The best moments happened on the ground, however, as numerous officers lined up for their chance to meet the Louisiana girl and share a hug.
Smiling faces were the surest sign of appreciation from the officers for young Rosalyn.
“The police have been scrutinized lately,” Lodge 7 Pres- ident Kevin Graham told reporters. “It’s certainly nice to show that somebody cares about us and wants to tell us.”
Officer Michael Carroll, who served as something of a chaperone to Rosalyn and her family, praised Rosalyn’s spirit and motivation despite her young age.
“I guess it takes a child of seven to do what any one of us could have been doing for years,” Carroll said in an in- terview shared by CPD on Facebook. “She said I’m going to do it, and her mother and father said we’re going to do it, too.”
A GoFundMe campaign (gofundme.com/spreading-a- message-of-love-in) has raised approximately $8,500 to support Rosalyn’s travels since she hit the road earlier this year.d
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JULY 2017 45