Surreal drive out of San Francisco.....

[JerseyShawn 0]

Today is the funeral for two local fallen firefighters, Vincent Perez and Antony Valerio.

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2011/06/second-injured-san-francisco-firefighter-still-critical-condition

Theyre about to shut down I-280 for the drive to the cemetery. All the overpasses along the way are littered with people waving flags and signs for the SFFD waiting for the funeral procession. I saw a few different ladder companies with their trucks parked on the overpasses with lights on.

Growing up in a firehouse this really hit me hard, on the verge of tearing up (I did). The outpouring of community really makes me proud. I laid some flowers the other night walking past the firehouse alongside the other flowers.

Antony and Vincent, rest your soles brothers.

[AggieDave 6]

Firefighter and Police funerals are incredibly moving. Motor funerals (funeral for a motorcycle police officer) is something to behold as well. The last one I rode in had police motorcycles that stretched over 2 miles long, riding in pairs in a the long train of vehicles with their emergency lights on.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[JerseyShawn 0]

I saw the funeral procession for "Papa", the president of the local 81 in San Francisco. It was about 15 or so minutes of motorcycles riding side by side. That was moving.

[pincheck 0]

Quote

Today is the funeral for two local fallen firefighters, Vincent Perez and Antony Valerio.

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2011/06/second-injured-san-francisco-firefighter-still-critical-condition

Theyre about to shut down I-280 for the drive to the cemetery. All the overpasses along the way are littered with people waving flags and signs for the SFFD waiting for the funeral procession. I saw a few different ladder companies with their trucks parked on the overpasses with lights on.

Growing up in a firehouse this really hit me hard, on the verge of tearing up (I did). The outpouring of community really makes me proud. I laid some flowers the other night walking past the firehouse alongside the other flowers.

Antony and Vincent, rest your soles brothers.

nothing wrong with tears mate these type of people who serve fellow men without looking for rewards or favor are the people we should most cherish regardless. Doesn't matter what service they are in fire, police, paramedics, docs, nurses, soldiers, seaman, airmen mountain rescue these guys put themselves in harms way for their fellow man so a tear is the least tribute we can pay to them

you did right my friend.

Billy-Sonic Haggis Flickr-Fun

[LongWayToFall 0]

When my best friend was killed in Iraq, I was part of the group of cars driving from the church to Golden Gate cemetery. The entire drive was free of traffic, every cross street closed down. At every intersection police cars were parked, and the officers were outside their cars saluting us as we drove by. 280 was shut down the whole way as well.

Seeing all of that really touched me, and showed that the PD really did appreciate my friend's sacrifice.

My glass is lifted to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the name of protecting and serving the people of this great country.