Los Angeles: On Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers and other public safety personnel converged on the field of Dodgers Stadium to be honored for their service on Heroes Day. A special pregame ceremony also paid tribute to civil servants in remembrance of Sept. 11, 2001.
Revered guests at the annual event included the family of fallen SWAT Officer Randy Simmons, Officer James Veenstra and his wife, Captain Michelle Veenstra.
In support of the event, dignitaries who stood alongside Lisa, wife of fallen SWAT Officer Simmons, included: LAPD First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell, Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca, Chief Douglas Barry of the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) and representatives from the Los Angeles School Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, the California Highway Patrol and the United States Marine Corps.
The LAPD’s Emerald Society Pipe Band lead the assembly of public safety officials onto the field as LAPD Officer Rosalind Curry sang the National Anthem. A moving tribute to Officer Simmons closed out the opening festivities with Officer Simmons’ son, Matthew, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to his sister, Gabrielle, followed by LAPD and LAFD Air Operations flyovers as the game began.
For photographs or video footage of Heroes Day, please visit www.lapdblog.org.
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