Page 12 - May 2020

Lord, I ask you to be with me in a very special way
As I face the challenges that come my way each day. Please give to me compassion for the innocent I see,
Help me to protect and serve those who depend on me. When duty calls to danger,
I will rely on you,
To give me strength and courage
and help me make it through. And when my shift is over, thankful I will be
That you have been the unseen guest walking next to me.
A Police Officer’s Prayer
It is not often that my personal life intersects with my ca- reer. Having served Lodge 7 and the brave men and women of the Chicago Police Department for many years, the most recent loss to the Chicago Police community really hit home.
My wife and I learned of the tragic passing of her cousin, Of-
ficer Marco DiFranco, early in the morning on Thursday, April 2, while in our second week of the governor’s shelter-at- home order. The moment seemed surreal. What? How? When? The first Chicago Police Officer to succumb to the deadly virus was so young and had so much more
to accomplish.
Marco left behind a close-knit Sicilian family. A lov-
ing and caring wife. Two young children. A heartbroken, recently widowed mother. A brother (also a proud Chicago Police Officer) and his family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, godchil- dren, friends and colleagues. The entire city of Chicago lost a
hero. For those who knew Marco, we lost so much more. Marco and I grew up not far from each other on the North- west Side of Chicago (St. Pascal parish) and had so much in common. Both of us came from parents who emigrated to this country from a small farming town in Sicily, instilling in us values which cannot be taught in any formal classroom. Our lives centered around our respective families, our heritage, our deep faith and our rich culture. We attended each other’s weddings — both of us marrying Italian women with the same first name. We each pursued careers in justice, albeit from dif- ferent directions. Marco chose the more difficult path of law
enforcement.
He worked hard, had an incredible professional ethic and
took tremendous pride in the oath of office which he took:
A fond farewell
PAT FIORETTO
12 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MAY 2020