Bessie Jackson
“I’m thankful to be here. I’m thankful that God woke me up this morning and gave me activity in my limbs, so I just want to say thank you. It’s just a blessing to be here. I’ve been a CAPS member for eight years, and I appreciate Officer Cassandra Norman for getting me involved. I do all I can to serve the community, and I’m willing to go all the way. By being a CAPS member, you have a say in your community and can give ideas to our police department.”

Hortense Lindsey
“I am thankful first of all for God that he has blessed me down through the years. I am a senior-plus. I am thankful for my children, my daughter who lives with me and takes care of me. I’m thankful that God has blessed my grandson to enroll at DePaul University, and he’s doing very, very good. And I’m thankful for all the children who I have helped in the Board of Education. I’ve served on CAPS for three years, and before that I served with SACCC, as well as a Loretto Hospital volunteer. I’m thankful that God has blessed all our seniors.”

Lula Richardson
“In addition to my family, I’m thankful to God for the community stretching their hands out to help the senior citizens. I thank God that we are [coming] together in celebration to be thankful for not only what we contributed to the community, but what we are continuing to contribute. Our commander in the 11th District is James Jackson, and I’m thankful for him.”

Eva L. Shaw
(mother of Wilner Sanders, chairperson of the 15th District Advisory Board):
“I’m very grateful to the good Lord that I still have a portion of my health and my family. And I hope God takes care of our troops serving in Iraq.”

Charles Sanders
“I have so much to be thankful for this year. I have a new wife (Wilner), and I have all my health and strength.

Lt. Cornelia C. Lott
“I’m a CAPS lieutenant in the 15th Chicago Police District, and I have quite a bit to be thankful for. I’m newly promoted, so I’m thankful for my promotion. I’m thankful for health; everyone in my family is healthy this year. I’m thankful for a very supportive and religious and spiritual “significant other.” I’m thankful for the support of my commander, Al Wysinger. He’s given me everything that I’ve needed to work with here in the district. I’ve been a police officer for 15 years, and I’ve been supported by all of the officers I worked with over the course of the years. I have never met an officer who had a problem with me as a woman. As a black woman being a supervisor, I’ve never had that problem. A lot of the female officers who came before me helped pave the way, so I’m thankful for them paving the way for me.”