Nativity Scene showcased in downtown Chicago at Daley Plaza for Christmas season

CHICAGO (WLS) — On a brutally cold Saturday morning in Daley Plaza, the sounds of the season rang out ahead of Christmas.

For the past 40 years, a group of volunteers in downtown Chicago, known as the “God Squad,” has been bringing the story of Christmas to life.

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“That’s the reason for the season, and just the spirit that we’ve kept going since the very beginning,” said Harold Hanley, a volunteer with the Chicago Nativity Scene.

The Nativity scene includes a manger with life-size statues, including baby Jesus, many of which have been part of the display since its establishment 40 years ago.

The dedicated “God Squad” volunteers braved bone chilling temperatures for hours Saturday, working to construct the Nativity scene in Daley Plaza.

“It just means Jesus was born as a savior and came to save everyone,” Chicago Nativity Scene volunteer John Frank Chesna said.

Chesna is a carpenter who says he’s been helping setup the Nativity scene for the past 20 years. He said when people experience the story of Christmas in Daley Plaza, he wants them to walk away feeling loved.

“It’s an honor for me to get to work on our Lord’s nativity,” Chesna said. “We remember that every person in every land is important.”