"The anticipation was building. It was their first big event, and it had taken months of planning. It was for something they strongly believed in and wanted to see flourish.

''It was stressful and hectic,'' Chicago police officer Rick Caballero said. ''We didn't know what to expect.''

The event was the inaugural fund-raiser for the Brotherhood for the Fallen, a not-for-profit organization of Chicago police officers committed to attending the funeral services of officers slain in the line of duty across the United States and giving their families financial donations.

The founders -- Caballero and fellow officers Patrick McGrath, John McKenna, James McNichols and Kris Stipanov -- picked Sept. 11 for its significance. The Grand Central in Lincoln Park was selected as the venue. The Trinity Irish Dancers were invited, and so were the Pipes and Drums of the Chicago Police Department. They reached out to the Cubs, White Sox and Blackhawks for donations.

The Hawks contributed a Dave Bolland package: an autographed jersey, tickets and a meet-and-greet with the pesky center of the defending Stanley Cup champions. What they didn't expect was that Bolland and defenseman Duncan Keith were going to attend."