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Honoring Our Heroes
When he spoke at the funeral service, Blas shared in his trib- ute how so many things reminded him of Ella. Just the smell of banana bread made him think about how she used to bake it and bring it into the district.
“If I was ever having a bad day, she would poke me and try to make me laugh,” Blas added. “She was loud, fun and outgoing. She genuinely loved people and was always asking if they needed anything just to try to be helpful and brighten somebody’s day.” Rise to the top
On the night of Aug. 7, Ella was where she wanted to be. She had wanted to join the CST because it was the best assignment to engage with her gifts and pursue her passions. Her dedication would show up in being around the people in the community who needed her and getting the bad guys.
Officer Sherina Ganjanaget met Ella working alongside her on the front lines of the protests in the summer of 2020. Tears gave way to laughter and smiles when reminiscing while standing in line for Ella’s visitation. She was channeling Ella right then and there, and she had a request for all Chicago Police Officers to hon- or her.
“Just keep talking about doing things for the community and how much she loved the job,” Ganjanaget said.
Come to think of it, though, Ella’s greatest gift might have been not letting the current landscape of policing affect her compas- sion and empathy. And it was that compassion and empathy that enabled Ella to not let undue influences change her mind or keep her from sticking to her convictions.
That is what the Department must ask of its best officers, and Commander Meredith Linas, who runs the CST, seemed to verify that perspective when sharing some thoughts about Ella after the funeral service.
“When I think of Ella, I think of the hero that she was,” Com- mander Rinas praised. “We were able to count on her every day. She had compassion, courage, integrity and selflessness that was on display every day. She lived her life to make a difference.”
It is important at this point in the grieving process to note where all this beauty, dedication, compassion, fearlessness and
Officer Mike Ostrowski of the CPD Honor Guard at the cemetery where Ella French was laid to rest.
vitality began, for Ella clearly was put on this earth to achieve something special. At the funeral service, her godfather, David Tinburg, spoke of meeting young Ella Grace – her middle name personifies her approach to life – when she came to a day care his wife Cindy ran at their house.
He revealed how Ella Grace was afraid of swimming in the wad- ing pool, afraid of bugs and afraid of him. Before long, she was swimming in the big pool with the older kids. And after it rained one day, a smiling Ella approached David and fearfully held out her stiffened palm to show she had picked up a night crawler.
“Never again would she be bound by her fears,” Tinburg sub- mitted. “And Ella Grace had an incredible power of a life deter- mined to make a difference.”
Elizabeth French shared some insight into her daughter with remarks at the funeral service that spread the love Ella was all about. Elizabeth told how when she adopted Ella at 8 months old, there were some tears that followed the get-to-know-you mo- ments.
“But then you smiled the smile that lit up your face,” she re- called. “And you have been sunshine ever since.”
Elizabeth then presented a message from the poem by Linda Ellis, “The Dash,” that expressed what Ella’s presence meant to so many.
For it matters not, how much we own, the cars... the house... the cash.
What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard; are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left that still can be rearranged.
To be less quick to anger and show appreciation more. And love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved be- fore.
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile...
Remembering that this special dash might only last a lit- tle while.
Here is the way to honor Ella Grace French: Wear a smile now. And as often as possible.
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