1st Place- Denise Casey-Chicago PD

2nd Place- Larry Nowak-retired Arlington Heights PD

Friday, January 22, 2010

We anxiously await the coming of what we have come to know as “The High Holy Days of the Emerald Society”. This years Event Chairman is our current past President, Patrick J. Moriarty. Pat has a firm grip on things and the committee has a fun filled day planned. We have secured a new and exciting venue for this years St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. Our friends at Local 399 (Operating Engineers) have allowed us to rent their Hall for our event. The facility is 2 years old, beautiful inside, with 1st class amenities and room for a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration that will be second to none! The Hall is located at 2260 S. Grove St. (22nd & Canal) Grove St. is ¼ block west of Canal St. There is free parking for 240 + vehicles and the area is in central but very private location on the Chicago River with a great view of the city. The building has multiple restrooms with changing areas for those who want to do so. The main hall is equipped with state of the art audio and visual equipment which we will utilize throughout the event. Through much hard work and planning we have kept the entry prices the same as last year’s celebration: $30.00 for adults 21 and over, $15.00 for persons under 21 and children 12 and under are free. Officers are encouraged to march proudly in your department uniform, as it is one of the few times we are cheered as we walk the street! Members marching in uniform will be admitted to the celebration for $20.00. We will be serving a full corned beef and cabbage dinner with all the trimmings and hot dogs for the kids. Chicago Beverage will be delivering a continual supply of libations for your enjoyment. A full service counter will be available for a small individual cost. We also have a block of rooms at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza available at a rate of $99.00.  This is an unbelievable rate that was offered to us. Contact the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza for further information. We will also have cabs available at the Hall for hire.

We were contacted by the London Metropolitan Police Departments Emerald Society early on in the year. They are celebrating their 5th Anniversary of their Emerald Society and have asked if they could march with us in the 2010 Parade. We were of course honored. We are holding a welcome celebration for them on Friday, March 12th, at Lizzie McNeill’s Irish Pub, 400 N. McClurg Ct., at 7:00. Our current Recording Secretary Megan Lyons is Chairman of this Celebration and has planned a first class welcome for this group. All Emerald Society members are encouraged to attend!  Entry to the welcome party is $30.00 which includes a 3 hour unlimited bar, well drinks and all beers, even Guinness, along with food (beef sandwiches, pizza, hot dogs, wings etc.) Discounted parking is available for ($6.00). Please come out and help us show these guys some Chicago Irish Hospitality. They are coming at their own expense to march with us! They are also very interested in trading any of our Police merchandise for their own.  Let’s show them how great the Emerald Society of Illinois is, by supporting this event.

I am sure by now most of you have heard Constable James Quinn has been recognized by the Chicago Police Department as the first Officer to ever be killed in the Line of Duty. The Constable was born in Kilkenny, Ireland in 1814. He came to the United States in 1848 after fleeing the Great Hunger of Ireland. He was killed in the line of duty in 1853. His star was placed in the Chicago Police Department’s Honored Star Case on March 2nd, 2010. The founding father of the Emerald Society of Illinois, Dan Burke Sr., has spearheaded a campaign to honor the good Constables name and give him the recognition he so deserves, by organizing a float for the Constable in this years St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Mr. Burke Sr. has contacted numerous politicians on a state and local level along with prominent members of the Irish community to assist him in this endeavor. Mr. Burke is going to great lengths to see that the Constable is given the recognition he so deserves. The Emerald Society and its Board of Directors supports and thanks our founding father, Dan Burke Sr. for initiating this task. We also hope all Officers of Irish descent march together on Saturday, March 13th, in their uniforms and show their respect to Constable Quinn, now known as Chicago’s first “Fallen Hero” and fellow Irishman for making the ultimate sacrifice and also for establishing the foundation of Irish-Americans in Law Enforcement.

I would be remise if I at this time did not thank the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation for all they do for Officers like Constable Quinn, who have been killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty. The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation has, since the” Mission Beyond the Memorial” began in August of 2007 given $900,471.00 in assistance to families of Chicago Police Officers killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty . The Emerald Society’s Past Irishman of the Year and retired Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, Philip J. Cline is Executive Director of the Foundation. The Foundation is a not for profit organization who funded and now maintains the nation’s finest police memorial in Gold Star Families Memorial Park on our lakefront. The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation is going to set up a table at our St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. Members who have not already signed up for a pay-roll donation to the Foundation may that day. It is a wonderful foundation. I ask that we all contribute to this wonderful foundation as it allows us to ensure we continue to take care of our own. Visit www.cpdmemorial.org for information on contributions or call (312) 499-8899.

I would be remise if I at this time did not thank the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation for all they do for Officers like Constable Quinn, who have been killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty. The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation has, since the” Mission Beyond the Memorial” began in August of 2007 given $900,471.00 in assistance to families of Chicago Police Officers killed or catastrophically injured in the line of  duty . The Emerald Society’s Past Irishman of the Year and retired Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department , Philip J. Cline is Executive Director of the Foundation. The Foundation is a not for profit organization who funded and now maintains the nation’s finest police memorial in Gold Star Families Memorial Park on our lakefront. The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation is going to set up a table at our St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. Members who have not already signed up for a pay-roll donation to the Foundation may that day. It is a wonderful foundation. I ask that we all contribute to this wonderful foundation as it allows us to ensure we continue to take care of our own. Visit www.cpdmemorial.org for information on contributions or call (312) 499-8899.

The Chicago Patrolmen’s Credit Union will be with us on St. Patrick’s Day also. The Chicago Patrolmen's Federal Credit Union is the only full service financial institution solely dedicated to servicing the financial needs of the Chicago Police Officers and their families. Dave Dunham, the Credit Union’s Chief Marketing Officer has become a familiar face and a friend of the Emerald Society. His continued support is greatly appreciated. Please consider the Chicago Patrolmen’s Federal Credit Union for all of your banking needs.

Emerald Society 35th Anniversary License Plates

In commemoration of this being the 35th Anniversary of the Emerald Society of Illinois we have designed a 35th Anniversary License Plate. Our 1st Vice president Kevin Myron is the Chairman of this project. The applications for the plates will be available at the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration along with all of the necessary information regarding the purchasing of the plates. A sample of the plate design will be on display at the parade celebration. You will be able to request a specific plate number. Pat Moriarty is fine tuning all of the details on this and has been instrumental in rolling out this project.

Our April Meeting will be held on the Southside at Lanigans Irish Pub., 3111 W. 111th St. on Thursday, April 15th. The meeting last year was a great success and we would like this years meeting to be as successful as the first one was. Our Treasurer Robert Shoup is the Chairman of the Southside meeting. He is promising a true Southside Irish welcome to all! Bob is a 4th generation Southsider, born and raised in the same neighborhood his mother (that’s me, grandfather and great grandfather O’Connor laid their roots) and promises a great meeting. Come out and show your Southside Irish Pride!!! That includes the North, East and Westside Irishman also There will be very special drink prices, $1.50 domestic bottles, $3.50 pints and of course something good to eat. We hope to have a good showing from the band as it is on a Thursday night and maybe they will even play a tune or two!!! We will sell $5.00 wristbands at the door which will entitle you to the food and drink specials. Free parking available in the large lot across the street (next to the firehouse).

We are accepting nominations for our Police Officer (s) of the Year Award. Please contact Secretary Jim McCarthy at (847) 336-6939 or Debbie O’Connor –Dimaggio at . Nominations should be received by May 1st to be considered and have occurred between Jan. 1st, 09 and Dec. 31st. '09.

We have already began to make plans for our 2010 Dinner Dance, which will be held at Gaelic Park, on Friday, September 24th, and have chosen our 2010 Irishman of the year. We had 5 solid nominations, and the winner of the Board’s election was John C. Griffin. John is a Cook County Circuit Court Judge, current President of Gaelic Park, the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee Director and Treasurer, Chairman of the “Forever Green Celebrations’ at Navy Pier, the World’s largest Block Party, and a multitude of other events that promote Irish culture and heritage. John was born and raised on the south-side of Chicago, (St. Rita Parish), is a graduate of Notre Dame, and DePaul University College of Law. He practiced Law until 2008, when he was appointed as a Judge. In February of 2010 he won the election for Cook County Circuit Court Judge in the 15th Subcircuit. We are honored John accepted our Nomination as our 2010 Irishman of the Year!