Thu, Jul 21, 2005
More Than 1,000 Turn Out For Memorial Service
A formation of twelve
helicopters flew over a four-mile long procession of law
enforcement vehicles -- a final goodbye to two Sacramento County,
CA, deputies killed in the crash of their Eurocopter EC-120
reportedly suffered a catastrophic engine failure July 13th.
"These guys were role models, they were heroes in the sky,"
Sheriff Lou Blanas said in a eulogy quoted by the Sacramento Bee.
"We will never, never forget them."
Two flag-draped coffins carrying the bodies of 36-year old
Deputy Joseph Kievernagel (bottom, right) and his partner, 29-year
old Deputy Kevin Blount (top, right), rested on the alter of St.
John Vianney Church as law officers, friends and family members
said goodbye.
A third deputy who was in the helicopter when it
impacted the side of a steep hill near Lake Natoma remained
hospitalized. Eric Henrickson was in critical condition Thursday at
Mercy San Juan Medical Center.
The Bee reports Kievernagel and Blount were inseperable on and
off duty. Kievernagel trained Blount when the latter joined the
sheriff's department seven years ago.
The two deputies were
remembered as inseparable friends. Kievernagel, a 17-year veteran
of the department, trained Blount when he came on the force seven
years ago, according to Sheriff Blanas.
They'd worked together ever since.
"Both shared a passion for flying, and they took it personally
when the bad guy got away," said their supervisor in the air unit,
Lt. Jamie Lewis.
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