Chicago Police Families Celebrate Father's Day At Lakefront Memorial
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Dozens of Chicago police officers, their families, and supporters came out to the lakefront on a warm and sunny Sunday for a special mass to celebrate Father's Day.
The annual Father's Day mass at the Gold Star Families Memorial and Park is a tradition for many police families.
Police Chaplain Dan Brandt said a special prayer for the fathers.
"We beg this morning that you bless these men; these fathers, grandfathers, godfathers, and father figures; and bless the memories of those whose names are inscribed on the memorial wall," he said.
Police Officer John Lorenz knows some of the 574 officers whose names are on the wall; those who have been killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty.
Sunday was the first time he came to the Father's Day mass just east of Soldier Field.
"I believe very strongly in my faith, and I can think of no better way to celebrate Father's Day than with friends and family," he said.
Chris Rewers' father was a police officer, and was shot in the line of duty in 1968; something Rewers is actually grateful for.
"In a weird way, I'm kind of happy that it happened, because my mom was a nurse over at Mercy [Hospital and Medical Center], and that's where they met. She was his nurse. So I wouldn't be here if he hadn't been shot," he said.
Rewers' father is now retired.
Police Memorial Foundation executive director Phil Cline said no new names have been added to the wall in the last four years. The last Chicago police officer killed in the line of duty was Clifton Lewis, who was shot at a convenience store in the North Austin neighborhood in December 2011.
Cline said the Police Memorial Foundation has distributed $7.5 million to families of fallen officers over the last nine years.