CHICAGO — A 24-hour vigil to honor the men and women of the Chicago Police Department who died in the line of duty is underway Friday.
CPD honor guard members are standing watch at Gold Star Memorial Park honoring the Gold Star families. A total of 601 flags are posted at the site, each representing an officer who made the ultimate sacrifice — including officer Luis Huesca who was killed earlier this week.
The 24-hour memorial pays respect to fallen CPD officers with honor guard members standing watch for several hours on 30-minute rotations each.
It’s open to the community and police say anyone is welcome to stop by, something they encourage and appreciate.
The vigil is somber, but this week it brings with it an even greater heartache as CPD mourns the loss of Officer Huesca.
Huesca was shot multiple times and killed as he arrived home from work Sunday morning. The motive for his murder still is not clear, but sources said his gun and badge were both taken in the attack.
His SUV was also stolen, but later recovered.
Huesca would have turned 31 two days after his murder. Now the department and his family are preparing to lay him to rest.
“It’s just a sad state of affairs we’re on the anniversary of some recent fallen officers that we’re going to be commemorating in both Springfield and Washington. Last year we lost officer Areanah Preston in a very similar fashion and also Andre Vasquez Lasso,” said Sgt. Jorge Rivera of the Chicago Police Department.
CPD’s honor guard will stand watch during the services for Officer Huesca before members travel to Springfield and D.C. for National Police Week events honoring fallen officers.
The memorial will go until midnight Friday.
Gold Star families attended the memorial for a wreath laying ceremony to honor their loved ones and all of the officers who gave their life protecting the city.
