St. Jude League holds march for fallen Chicago Police Department officers, families
Areanah Preston, off-duty police officer, shot and killed early Saturday morning coming home from work
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago's St. Jude Police League held a march Sunday morning, in honor of fallen officers, and their families, one day after another Chicago police officer was shot and killed.
It was the 91st annual memorial march.
It stepped off at 8 a.m. along the lakefront and traveled from Museum Campus Drive to Waldron Drive, where the Gold Star Memorial is located.
The names of nearly 600 fallen officers are listed on that memorial.
Special tributes were expected to be made for officers who lost their lives in service to the city over the past year.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson were in attendance, and, by 8 a.m., there was a sea of current and former Chicago police officers gathered near Soldier Field.
CPD Officer Areanah Preston, 24, was shot and killed near her home after work early Saturday morning.
Prosecutors said Steven Montano, 18, shot and killed 32-year-old Chicago police Officer Andres Vazquez Lasso after police responded to a domestic disturbance in Gage Park on March 1.
CPD hopes the event sends a message to families of fallen officers that they are loved and remembered.
"People have given their life, I mean these are heroes that we're supporting today, just the fallen officers, I couldn't even imagine, losing a child or a husband or spouse," said Karen Interrance, the wife of an officer. "It's tough."
The somber sound of taps echoed through the Gold Star Memorial Sunday.
"We say thank you, but we know thanks is not enough for all that our officers have given and their families have given to this city," Chicago Police Interim Superintendent Eric Carter said.
Recruits held signs showing the faces and names of the lives cut short.
Maria Marmolejo lost her husband, Eduardo, on the job in 2018.
"This march symbolizes pride, hope and never ending strength by those who will continue to push forward, even when the tunnel becomes darker and the light more scarce," Marmolejo said.
Officer Michael Curry's family has served with CPD since 1935, and said the sacrifices of his fellow officers can never be taken for granted.
"My grandfather, my father, my uncle, my mother, my brother, cousins. It's the family business," Curry said. "We are all here for each other. We're here to remember those fallen and just to support each other the best we can because we're all blue."
Judy Antoniazzi is married to a retired Chicago police officer, and also has a son serving.
She said this moving march should serve as a reminder to all of us about the dangers of donning the badge.
"You want to make sure you let them know you love them before they leave the house because that might be the last time you get to say it," Antoniazzi said.
INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER | Track crime and safety in your neighborhood
