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was holding Max’s hand as he took his last breath, Lodge 7 Delegate Roderique McClain admitted what the other 6,000 were feeling, saying “I was tearing up.”
And then the mayor offered a message of appreciation and tribute like no other this week.
“I have to tell you that I know all of you in this room have had to be that person who has held the hand of a loved one as they took their last breath,” she extolled. “So what I wanted to do today is thank you for that. Thank you for what you do. Because you ease the burden and pain.”
Perhaps the greatest confirmation for law enforcement standing strong in the path of assassins targeting them and media members berating them came from Tennessee De-
Chicago FOP Family Auxiliary President Angie Hayne and Illinois FOP Trust- ee Rocky Nowaczyk had the honor of representing the state
partment of Safety and Homeland Security David Purkey, who referenced remarks he had heard from U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis about soldiers standing in the gap for the country. Purkey extended that sentiment to the conven- tion delegates.
“When I look at this crowd, I see a group of men and wom- en who stand in the gap for the elected officials in this coun- try and for the citizens of this country to make sure law and order is the rule of the day,” Purkey cheered. “I look at each and every one of you and say that I appreciate you each and every day.”
Welcome support and reinforcement for the rule of law manifested into thundering applause when Chris Cox, exec- utive director of the NRA, took the podium. Cox received an
40 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ SEPTEMBER 2017