The 8th annual 'Blue Mass' Saturday afternoon at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Kankakee honored the many first responders, who answer emergency calls to disasters.

The Mass recognizes the emergency teams, especially those who died in the line of duty.

The 'Blue Mass' is part of the annual Half-Paddy Festival on the grounds at St. Patrick's Church. It's sponsored across the world by local councils of the Knights of Columbus. The Mass finds communities showing appreciation for the first-responders efforts.

Fallen first-responders were recognized at a ceremony on the Kankakee County Courthouse lawn followed by a procession to St. Patrick's Church. The popular event finds hundreds of people lined up along Indiana Avenue in Kankakee.

Kankakee Fire Chief Ron Young says " it's a humbling experience, we're humbled by the thoughtfulness of the community."

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