The bodies of fallen San Francisco firefighters Vincent Perez and Anthony Valerio, arrived in flag-draped caskets for a memorial service Friday at St. Mary's Cathedral. Photos by Luke Thomas.
By Luke Thomas
June 11, 2011
Thousands of firefighters, paramedics and law enforcement officers from across the State converged on St. Mary’s Cathedral yesterday to honor and pay tribute to two San Francisco firefighters lost in the line of duty.
San Francisco firefighter Lt. Vincent Perez, 48, and firefighter-paramedic Anthony Valerio, 53, both from Engine Company 26, were fatally injured June 2 while battling a house blaze in Diamond Heights.
It was the San Francisco Fire Department’s deadliest incident in 65 years.
Firefighter companies from as far afield as Los Angeles and Redding attended the funeral services which included a vigil on Thursday and a private burial service at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma.
As many as 200 firetrucks and emergency vehicles formed a processional convoy following the memorial service, transporting the American flag-draped caskets to their final resting place.
Photos
Luke Thomas
Luke Thomas is a former software developer and computer consultant who proudly hails from London, England. In 2001, Thomas took a yearlong sabbatical to travel and develop a photographic portfolio. Upon his return to the US, Thomas studied photojournalism to pursue a career in journalism. In 2004, Thomas worked for several neighborhood newspapers in San Francisco before accepting a partnership agreement with the SanFranciscoSentinel.com, a news website formerly covering local, state and national politics. In September 2006, Thomas launched FogCityJournal.com. The BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, New York Times, Der Spiegel, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, 7x7, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Bay Guardian and the San Francisco Weekly, among other publications and news outlets, have published his work. Thomas is a member of the Freelance Unit of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521 and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
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June 13, 2011 at 8:52 pm
Full disclosure,
Mr. Wright fails to mention that he ran the John Avalos for supe campaign two years back.
Adachi for Mayor!!
go Giants!!!
h.
June 13, 2011 at 5:13 pm
The photos on this site are always outstanding.
Jonathan Wright: your post is lame.
June 13, 2011 at 2:43 pm
It’s terrible that these firefighters died on the job and that’s what they did. They died on the job.
So why sanitize their deaths by referring to them as “Fallen” and “Lost in the line of duty.” (You mean killed in the line of duty). When anyone else dies, most people say “so and so died or passed away such and such a day.” They don’t say, “so and so fell and is now lost.”
Whenever troops die in one of the US Empire’s many wars/occupations, the corporate media routinely sanitize those deaths by saying, “the fallen.” On Memorial Day, the corporate media trot out “the fallen” language. No one has “fallen” anywhere other than to the ground, if they weren’t already there to begin with. The troops DIED. Were KILLED. These fire fighters died. Were killed, unfortunately. Tell it like it is.
I expect this sanitizing of death from the corporate media, but not from an “alternative” publication. Although these days, too many so-called “alternative” publications and those pretending to be progressive are doing their best to be as much like the corporate media they have slammed in the past.
June 13, 2011 at 7:26 am
Luke,
Great work as always. I think when you and me and Tony De Renzo cover any event we get a better sense of it than any team in town.
Dig Tony De Renzo’s video and hear Elvis sing, ‘Amazing Grace’.
Video Coverge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JboP9DZH_8Y
h.
June 12, 2011 at 10:37 pm
…” Frankly, I’m surprised he was able to get out of there without a scratch on him.”
ooooh sounds scary- those super tough manly union thugs…shivers…
June 12, 2011 at 6:21 pm
And bless you for the amazing photos Luke
June 12, 2011 at 6:20 pm
Bait taken – and what business did Adachi have stepping foot near Gough and Geary on Saturday? Frankly, I’m surprised he was able to get out of there without a scratch on him.
June 12, 2011 at 9:26 am
Luke, wonderful shots, as usual. Did you happen to get any of Adachi being ‘asked’ to leave and not enter St Mary’s Cathedral for Memorial service. We know that the People’s Houses have been commandeered, but I thought the Lord’s Houses were still open to all.
Just asking.