Legendary rock band, Chicago, will be performing with Earth, Wind & Fire at the United Center this Friday, April 1st and more than music will be highlighted at this long awaited event.
The “Chicago Horse” is the creation of local artist and Chicago police officer Peter Bucks and is a piece of public art history. The finely crafted statue will be displayed and available for purchase at Chicago’s United Center show.
Last year, the band’s longtime manager, Peter Schivarelli, collaborated with the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and commissioned the “Chicago Horse” as part of their Horses of Honor initiative. Horses of Honor, a public art project that featured life-sized police horse statues, raised funds necessary to assist the Foundation in supporting the families of fallen and severely injured Chicago police officers. Each horse statue was created to honor those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
“We love this horse! Peter Bucks did a wonderful job designing it,” said Peter Schivarelli, manager of the famed rock bank Chicago and former 43rd Ward superintendent. “We all felt that this project was so important that the entire band wanted to lend our name and raise awareness for this important cause. It was also important for us to honor Thomas who served two tours overseas in the military only to be tragically killed back home in Chicago.”
The horse is dedicated to fallen Chicago police officer Thomas E. Wortham, IV . His parents and sister will be attending the show as special guests of the band.
Those interested in more information about purchasing the “Chicago Horse” or commissioning an original horse statue should contact the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation at 312-499-8899.
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ABOUT THE CHICAGO POLICE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to honoring the lives of our fallen heroes. The Foundation provides support and financial assistance to the families of Chicago police officers who are killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty.
Established in 2004, the Foundation strengthens the relationship between the Chicago Police, its business and civic leaders, and its citizenry. It allows us to express our gratitude to the fallen Officers’ families for the ultimate sacrifice of their loved one. To date, the Foundation has donated more than $7.3 million to family members of Chicago Police officers in need of assistance.
For more information about the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and its mission, please visit our website at www.cpdmemorial.org
John E. Gordon
Project Manager
Chicago Police Memorial
Foundation
1407 W. Washington Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60607
www.cpdmemorial.org
773.706.4484
Photo: Peer Grimm/EPA
