Yesterday I welcomed some of my fellow police officers to the State Capitol.
They are members of the Bagpipes & Drums of the Emerald Society, Chicago Police Department.
The group was formed in May of 1982 with the help of Mayor Jane Byrne and Emerald Society President Dan Burke after the tragic deaths of 3 Chicago Police Officers.
Their goal since inception has been taking on the responsibility of playing at the funerals of Police Officers and Firefighters killed in the line of duty.
Throughout the years the Band has participated in over one hundred honor funeral services for members of the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department and numerous Suburban, County, State and Federal agencies.
This includes the services of Capitol Hill Police Officer Jacob J. Chestnut and Special Agent John M. Gibson, killed in July of 1998.
In September of 2002, the band journeyed to New York’s Ground Zero to return the benevolence offered in 1982.
Thank you to my fellow colleagues for helping me give a warm Springfield welcome to the Bagpipes & Drums of the Emerald Society – Chicago Police Department.