Posted on 03/29/2006 8:17:11 AM PST by CedarDave
The sirens reverberated through Downtown Albuquerque for nearly 35 minutes Tuesday afternoon in tribute to fallen Deputy James McGrane Jr.
The motorcade heading to Mount Calvary Cemetery drew an emotional day to a close. Queen of Heaven Church was packed for McGrane's funeral Mass, which started at 11 a.m. and ended at noon.
Archbishop Michael Sheehan, who led today's Mass, said McGrane gave the ultimate sacrifice. He said he hopes his death brings greater respect and support for law enforcement.
Officers lined streets and saluted McGrane's family as the motorcade of several hundred cars passed by, making its way under an American flag that was hung between two firetrucks.
Family and friends could be seen wiping away tears from inside cars. One woman in a car at the beginning of the motorcade put her hand against the window and mouthed "thank you" as the vehicle made its way to the cemetery.
Auzadeh Bartholf stood on the sidewalk as her husband, Bernalillo County sheriff's Deputy John Bartholf, drove by with the rest of the motorcade.
"I'm here to show my support for the family," Auzadeh Bartholf said. "As a deputy's wife, if anything were to happen to my husband, I hope they would do the same thing for me."
Heidi Warren took a moment from her job Downtown to watch the procession. "It's always very tragic when you lose somebody, but especially when you lose people who put their lives on the line for us," Warren said.
Warren said she hopes law enforcement agencies catch the suspect in McGrane's death, Michael Paul Astorga.
"It's frightening that he's still out there," she said. "Actually, my fear is that he's going to get away."
(Excerpt) Read more at abqtrib.com ...
Sad PING
Thanks Dave..... Thanks for the information all through this. I am off FR for a while will check back later.
Stay safe !
RIP, I hope they catch the murderer.
Remindful of the Reagan funeral procession...
Yesterday afternoon BCSO Deputies were searching along the roadside between Oak Flats road and the Ponderosa. I can only think they may believe some evidence was thrown from the truck when Astorga was running to Chilili.
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