The 15th Annual FIREHOG Fallen Hero Memorial Run took place on Saturday, June 8, 2013. The Run began at the LAFD Firefighter Museum located next to Fire Station 27.
The Museum was a fitting place to begin the run with the LAFD Fallen Firefighter Memorial Plaza as the backdrop to the opening ceremony. The brief ceremony was attended by widows and family members of fallen LAFD members and included select speakers, the ceremonial “10 Bells” and retired LAFD member John Keys playing the bagpipes. The LAFD Firehogs would like to thank the LAFD Historical Society for the use of the Museum and Memorial Plaza.
The route for the Memorial Run would take more than 100 bikes out of the Museum Plaza north up Cahuenga and then west on Sunset all the way to the Coast. The first stop of the Memorial Run was at a Southern California classic – Gladstones on PCH. Gladstones is always willing to host events for the Firehogs, and this time was no exception.
From Gladstones, it was off to the final stop of the day – the Sagebrush Cantina. For starters, ride participants were provided an excellent place to spend a Saturday afternoon with the ambiance of the Sagebrush Cantina. Ride participants were also provided a wonderful array of tacos from the ever popular taco bar, including all the fixin’s and side dishes.
The owners and staff of the Sagebrush Cantina can’t be thanked enough for their assistance in helping put on this event. The Sagebrush Cantina allowed the use of their outside patio, which was a perfect place to listen to our own LAFD member Jim Como and his band Fullhouse, which rocked the Cantina well into the evening. The Firehog party actually drew patrons from the bar out into the patio area.
As usual, there were several fantastic baskets of goods to be raffled off. Everything from T-shirts and ball caps to golf clubs and picnic baskets were bid on. The biggest item (not by size) to be raffled off was an iPad mini, which was won by an Orange County Leatherhead Fire member. All proceeds from the Memorial Run, as well as the raffle, will be donated to the Los Angeles Fireman’s Widows, Orphans and Disabled Fireman’s Fund.
The tentative date for the 2014 LAFD FIREHOG Fallen Hero Memorial Run is set for June 21, 2014. Any LAFD member interested in becoming a LAFD Firehog may visit the LAFD Firehog website at www.firehogs.org for information about becoming a new member.
By Eric Verwey
