Sanford Funeral [12-31-14]

On the morning of Wednesday, December 31st, 2014 hundreds [if not thousands] of firefighters and police officers from across the tri-state area lined the streets outside of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church on Wanser Avenue in Inwood. This large presence was gathered for the funeral of Inwood Firefighter [and former Assistant Chief] Joseph Sanford Jr. – who died in the line of duty as a result of injuries sustained at a house fire in Woodmere on the morning of December 19th, 2014. The funeral mass began just after nine a.m. and shortly after if concluded the funeral procession to the Greenfield Cemetery in Uniondale was underway. The densely packed procession [comprised of family and friends of Joseph Sanford Jr. along with dozens of fire apparatus] drove up Peninsula Boulevard through the Five Towns area, Lynbrook, Rockville Centre, Hempstead, and Uniondale. All along the route were flag draped arches using ladder trucks from across Long Island. It was said that there were upwards of three dozen arch details present for the solemn occasion. As the procession passed each arch firefighters clad in turnout gear saluted out of respect.