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Funeral for fallen Sgt. Steve Owen takes place Thursday
"The first photo is a family portrait taken at our wedding ceremony in October 1999. From left to right – Son Branden, now age 24; Wife Tania; Daughter Shannon, now age 22; Steve Owen; and Son Chadd, now age 27."
(
Courtesy of family of Sgt. Steve Owen / LASD
)
"The second photo, also taken at the wedding, captured Steve on one knee giving symbolic vows to his daughter Shannon, just before giving vows to her mother Tania. It was the kind of person he was, always thoughtful of others feelings and emotions before his own."
A memorial service for Sgt. Steve Owen will be held in Lancaster Thursday morning, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
The service, which begins at 10 a.m., is closed to the public and will lead to a variety of road closures and delays from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., authorities said. The procession will begin at 8 a.m., with the following Lancaster-area roads affected:
Southbound Sierra Highway to East Avenue M (Columbia Way)
Eastbound East Avenue M (Columbia Way) to 50th Street East
Northbound 50th Street East to East Lancaster Boulevard
Westbound on East Lancaster Boulevard to 40th Street East
South on 40th Street East into the Lancaster Baptist Church
While the service is closed to the general public, the Sheriff's Department will stream it on the web. You can click here to view it. Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell told KPCC that the streaming will be done so the public can still participate without crowding the service itself.
Last week the family of Sgt. Owen released this statement to the public through the LA County Sheriff's Department:
To the residents of LA County and especially the Antelope Valley:
We want to say thank you for the love and support you have shown our family as we mourn the loss of our husband, father, brother, uncle, son, and ultimately our HERO, “Sgt. Steve Owen.” The continuous outpouring of encouragement, gratitude, and respect for him that has come from our community and across the nation has brought us the comfort and the strength needed to survive this tragedy. You all have truly touched our hearts.
We want to say thank you for everyone who has stood in support, prayed, written letters, shared stories and are continuing to grieve beside us in honor of our fallen Hero. Steve paid the ultimate sacrifice, but his passing is uniting this community.
We have peace knowing he was a man of faith, and although his earthly body is gone his spirit is alive and thriving inside all of us. He is seated with the Lord Almighty looking down on all of us now and continuing to ensure our safety. Rest assured, he will always be patrolling the streets of our community; you may not see him but he is there. He will be missed, but never forgotten.
We are sharing a couple of very personal photos to help tell the story of the kind of man our husband, dad, and son was; a true family and community protector. He had a huge heart for all things living and always put others before himself. The first photo is a family portrait taken at our wedding ceremony in October 1999. From left to right – Son Branden, now age 24; Wife Tania; Daughter Shannon, now age 22; Steve Owen; and Son Chadd, now age 27. The second photo, also taken at the wedding, captured Steve on one knee giving symbolic vows to his daughter Shannon, just before giving vows to her mother Tania. It was the kind of person he was, always thoughtful of others feelings and emotions before his own.
Thank you for all of the love and support, praise the Lord and God Bless the USA.
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