Chicago police Officer Conrad Gary’s wake was held Thursday in Oak Lawn where loved ones showed up at the funeral home throughout the day and night despite the rain and cold.
“I’m a friend of the family and it’s just breaks my heart as well as everyone else who is here,” said Dave Altenburg.
So many showed up throughout the night from friends to fellow officers they had to line up outside in the cold rain for up to an hour.
“It’s very important to honor those who serve our country," family friend Jean Huggy said. "No matter if it’s a police officer, firefighter or our military. I’ve known them personally for years. It’s just very tragic.”
They came to comfort the family of Gary.
"The family members are going through a lot and we just want them to know we care about them and they’re loved," Matt Garvey, a family friend, said. "Anyone who gives to our community like a police officer is amazing in our book."
“He served in the military. Good guy," Huggy said. "His brothers and the Gary family is very family oriented."
The 31-year-old Air Force veteran from Oak Lawn leaves behind a wife and their 6-month-old daughter.
"We were with them about two weeks ago with his brand new baby as well," friend Tony Driscoll said. "It’s unbelievably sad. I can’t imagine during the holiday season going through this."
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Friends and family say they appreciate all the police officers from Chicago and throughout the suburbs who came here to pay their respects.
