Lights Festival on the Magnificent Mile

Kick off the holiday season and create your special memories on The Magnificent Mile in 2012! The BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, the nation's largest evening holiday celebration, jump starts the holiday season on Saturday, November 17
http://www.themagnificentmile.com/events/lights-festival/

Fallen Hero - Capt. Herbert "Herbie" Johnson - Funeral at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine

Funeral for fallen firefighter: 'Our family has lost a real hero'
Chicago Tribune - Michael Holtz and Jennifer Delgado

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-fallen-firefighter-johnson-wake-20121108,0,3653725.story
Led by the slow march of a drum and pipe corps, a fire truck pulled up to a Southwest Side church today bearing the flag-draped casket of Capt. Herbert "Herbie" Johnson, a 32-year veteran who died battling an extra-alarm fire.

As firefighters in dress uniforms stood at attention under dark skies, Johnson's casket was brought into St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel past his family and hundreds of friends and colleagues.

Johnson's younger brother, John, a Chicago police officer, struggled through tears as he spoke. "Mom and dad, Tommy's home," he said, calling his brother by his middle name.

"He was a firefighter to the end," he said. "Herbie, I could not be prouder of you."

ohnson's brother, Ted, who also is a Chicago firefighter, said the tragedy still seems surreal. His family is struggling to deal with the loss but grateful for the outpouring of support from across the country, he said.

"I'm going to have to carry my brother's body to his grave," Johnson said on Wednesday. "But I'm going to have over 4,000 brothers and sisters right there with me."

Johnson's widow greeted well-wishers as she stood next to the dark wooden casket holding the body of her husband who was in his dress uniform with a gold cross beside him. A medal for his heroism in the Fire Department also lay in the casket, which was adorned with pink roses.

Johnson, 54, was found in the attic of a burning building in the 2300 block of West 50th Place on Nov. 2. The 32-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department was apparently caught in a "flashover" burst of flames that damaged his airways and sent him into cardiac arrest. He died despite paramedics' attempts to resuscitate him.