Page 8 - December 2018

First Vice President’s Report
A touching tribute to a fallen hero,
Sam Jimenez
The funeral service and honor guard ceremony for fallen Chicago Police Officer Samuel Jimenez were held on Nov. 26. Police officers throughout the country gathered together to pay their respects and show support for his grieving family and friends.
The ceremony on that cold wintry day at St. Jo- seph’s Chapel at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guada- lupe was filled with mourners. Coworkers from the 2nd District stood outside in formation, waiting
for the service to begin.
The greeting was done by Cardinal Blasé Cupich. The first
reading, from the Book of Wisdom, was performed by Sam’s partner, Officer Armando Zambrano. Father Dan Brandt and Deacon Al Lopez participated in the homily. Remarks were giv- en by fellow classmate Rafael Villegas. In a touching tribute, Vil- legas spoke of his friendship with Sam, stating that one of Sam’s greatest qualities was his “passion to serve others.”
After the ceremony, I attended the benefit party held later that night at the FOP, hosted by the Brotherhood of the Fallen. Rick Caballero and that organization work tirelessly throughout the
year to support officers and their families. Also in attendance was Father Dan, who has done a phenomenal job as head of the Chaplains Unit.
During the benefit, two officers were invited to speak about Sam. The first stated that she was the representative for the 002. She said that many of the police officers who worked with Sam described him in similar terms; a “gentle giant,” “soft-spoken,” and “the nicest person you would ever want to meet.” He was always willing to help, she recalled, and it “didn’t matter where you came from or who you were — he was there for you.” She finished by saying, “Sam knows we are here for him and his fam- ily because we are all brothers and sisters.”
Sam Jimenez was a great policeman, husband, father and friend. This was obvious from the numerous photos in the prayer program of Sam, dressed in his police uniform, with his arms wrapped around his three children. Other pictures fea- tured Sam with fellow police officers, including one where the 2nd District’s parking lot served as a backdrop. A final picture on the back of the prayer card was of Sam kissing his wife after his police academy graduation.
Sam Jimenez was an inspiration to all who knew him.
PAT MURRAY
8 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ NOVEMBER 2018