On the week of the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Chicago Heat Wave, Mayor Brandon Johnson and City of Chicago officials are lifting up two events honoring the more than 700 Chicagoans who lost their lives during the tragic heat wave. Mayor Johnson joined the Department of Environment (DOE), Department of Public Health (CDPH), the Chicago Park District, the Northwestern Buffett Institute for Global Affairs, and other community partners at an event highlighting the progress the City, community, and academia are making as part of the Defusing Disasters project to build heat resilience and protect Chicagoans from extreme heat. On Thursday, the Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs (MOVA) posthumously honored Emilio Aguirre, a World War II U.S. Army veteran and former prisoner of war who passed away from heat-related illness during the ‘95 Heat Wave, with full military honors and a proper headstone. The 1995 Heat Wave Commemoration and Defusing Disasters Project Showcase was held at the Columbus Park Refectory, located in the Austin neighborhood. This location was chosen due to Austin’s experience during the 1995 heat wave and its proximity to several of the communities that were most severely impacted.

Photo Credit: City of Chicago