Answering the Call
- John Hubbard spent his life carrying the burdens of his generation, and now a group of volunteers is stepping up to carry the WWII veteran to his final resting place. After a life of service including both World War II and 30 years in the Chicago Police Department, Hubbard suffered a stroke last month, and passed away in hospice Wednesday at the age of 91.
Neighbor Beverly Falls’ family lived next door to the Hubbards for 48 years, and were close family friends. "He was known as... a friendly patrolman," Falls said. "He served his country."
With few of Hubbards' friends left, and only a few family members living out of state, Falls asked WGN to see if military or CPD veterans would volunteer to carry Hubbard’s coffin to his final resting place. The Chicago Police Department organizes such services for line of duty deaths, and commanding officers can send members to assist at funerals of active members who die outside of the line of duty. Organizations like the Saint Jude Police League provide services to retired members when resources are available.
“I think veterans and police will volunteer, and America is a great country and when it all boils down, we come together and do the right thing,” Falls said. It turns out Falls was correct, as within minutes of WGN airing the story about her call for volunteers, at least six CPD and military veterans contacted her to say they would heed the call.
No doubt there are many CPD officers (and veterans) still living locally. And they are lacking contemporaries who are physically capable of seeing them to their final resting place. It would be nice if the Department or the FOP or any of the ethnic police groups had a listing of retirees who might be in need.
Labels: general
posted by SCC at 12:02 AM
18 Comments:
I love the last line of the story. The young people are voting with their pocketbooks. I have been doing the same thing in Chicago and they never listen. The Chicago Way! DemocRATS!
Vote with your feet next!
There should be an honor guard at each one.
a few years back my uncle died proud member of the dept 25yrs when asked for a police escort for the funeral Good captain said No he couldn't spare the cars
"See I have Clout and Power son and you do NOT!!"
When and where are officer Hubbard's services?
May he rest in peace! Thank you to the military veterans and a Chicago police officers that stood up to do this, the thin blue line gets thinner but we will never be forgotten!
All one has to do is go to an FOP meeting...it's packed with crab asses with no friends.
The Illinois Police Assn. used to have an Honor Guard which would provide that service for fallen members. Sadly, that has ceased to exist. The IPA is no longer the viable group that it used to be. Come to think of it, the same holds for the FOP when the word viable is mentioned.
Retired.38 spl +P
As a regular citizen, I would like to get on such a list
Rename Hubbard High school after this guy.
We should honor our past.
Thank you for your service Sir. God be with you.
My friend's Dad passed away a few years ago. He had served in WW II and was on CPD for a few years before he quit and went into another line of work. 016 provided a escort vehicle without hesitation. I can't recall the name of the watch commander but he could not have been any nicer about it. Don't forget, there are still a lot of great people at all ranks on the CPD
I'd suggest contacting either the local American Legion Post or VFW Post. Most will gladly provide an honor guard.
Years ago I attended a wake for a lieutenant I worked for decades ago. I was on company time in uniform. I was the only officer in uniform there. The family appreciated that. I knew he was a WWII vet but learned he was a fighter pilot (P-47 and P-51)over Europe. My only regret on the job is not learning more about and from the "old" guys I worked with when I was new.
510 am> i hope you are not a detective,click on the link!
IPA, I Remember that sticker on my dad’s car each year. That was the main sticker for coppers on their car I believe in the shape of the state of Illinois.
3:41 AM
Experienced almost same thing when (head) Parish Priest
said he could not come over to house to give father the Last
Rites after he passed. "We don't give the L.R. to dead people."
Retired commander here. Any time I received a call about a deceased officer, even if he hadn't ever worked in my district (and it happened frequently) where the commander of his/her last assignment would not provide a funeral detail, I always provided one and the officer assigned was in his/her Class A uniform. What? One less car to answer B.S. calls?
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