The weather held off enough to have a pretty good (though chilly) day at the lakefront:
- Dressed in a police uniform, Adam Sanchez, 9, wept Sunday as he held a photograph of his uncle – a Chicago Police Department officer who died in the line of duty nearly three years ago.
The boy came to Gold Star Families Memorial and Park to honor the memory of 27-year-old Alejandro Valadez, who was shot and killed in the line of duty in the Englewood neighborhood in June 2009. He was joined by hundreds of others for the 80th annual St. Jude Police League Memorial March and Service honoring fallen officers.
Valadez's sister Brenda said while her family still struggles with the loss, events like Sunday's ceremony are comforting.
Especially comforting to those still wearing the uniform each and every day in the face of the senseless deaths of our brothers and sisters. Godspeed to all the fallen.