Names Of Three Fallen Officers Added To Gold Star Police Memorial
(CBS) -- Family and friends of three fallen officers were on hand at the Gold Star Families Memorial and Park to unveil the newest names to the wall of honor.
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The names of Lt. Charles Stine, Detective Laubet Zaccard and Officer John T. Lynch finally joining the honorable ranks of their fallen brothers and sisters.
"These officers died during a job they loved, serving a city and country they loved even more," Phil Cline, Executive Director of the Chicago Police Memorial. "What was so noble about these officers is described on the plaques at the entrances to the Gold Star Families Memorial and Park. It's not how they died that made them heroes, it's how they lived."
Cline says though their sacrifices were made long ago, they have not been forgotten.
"To the families of the police officers we honor today, may this tribute serve to acknowledge in some small way, the hero that you lost."
Officer Lynch died after suffering a heart attack during a police foot chase on December 19, 1969.
"I'm looking at it and I'm thinking to myself 'boy he would really love this because he loved being a cop,' said Donna O'Neill, Officer Lynch's daughter.
Officer Lynch died after suffering a heart attack during a police foot chase on December 19, 1969.
"It's very touching and it brings back memories," said Peg Rost, Officer Lynch's daughter.
The feeling was the same for the family of Detective Zaccard who was accidentally shot and killed by a fellow officer on July 23, 1946.
"My husband, his son, was a wonderful man, but he always regretted not having the the recognition his father deserved," said Sonia Zaccard, Detective Zaccard's daughter-in-law.
Also added to the wall, the name of Lt. Charles Stine. He was shot multiple times on September 28, 1936 and later died from medical complication due to his injuries.
On why the officers are finally being recognized, Cline said, "The rules of the department have changed so we are trying to go back and correct those mistakes."
The three names join 571 other names already etched in the granite wall on the west side of the park.
Dedicated in 2006, the memorial pays tribute to all of the police officers who have died in the line of duty since the formation of the department in the 1830s.
