Scores of firefighters in dark blue uniforms gathered at Fire Station 132 Thursday morning in silence, with arms raised in salute, as a flag ceremony unfolded in honor of Station 132 Capt. Michael Shepard.
First responders came from all over the county, based on the insignias seen on fire engines and sheriff’s vehicles parked for more than two blocks on both sides of Thompson Ranch Drive, at Sand Canyon Road. The United States flag was lowered at the station, then ceremonially folded for presentation to Shepard’s family.
“Capt. Shepard was a dedicated member of the Los Angeles County Fire Department,” Los Angeles County Fire Department Chaplain Daniel Hathaway told the group gathered alongside Shepard’s family and close friends. In sharing the details of Shepard’s dedicated service to the fire department, Hathaway said Shepard became, at that time, the oldest person to successfully complete the Los Angeles County Fire Department Recruit Academy at the age of 51.