A Biker’s Conveyance
Ty Conklin wanted a better way for his biker buddies to make their last ride. Bikers don’t much like cages; that’s part of what makes them bikers.
After a buddy’s funeral, he and some friends were sitting around a bar, considering possibilities. Ideas were exchanged; drawings were made.
I did a funeral with a horse-drawn hearse, where that hearse met the procession for a last-mile ride. I also had wreckers, pick-ups, and fire apparatus used as hearses. Letting the hearse reflect the deceased is a perfect way for the director to round out his service to the family.
An Appropriate Conveyance
Retired firefighters in Arizona are working to create an appropriate vehicle for firefighter funerals. Traditionally, a firefighter has apparatus in attendance at their funeral. In some cases, the truck is still used to carry the casket to the cemetery. But these days, with trucks costing over $500,000, and carrying much specialized equipment, it’s no longer as practical to use apparatus as a hearse. Pallbearers may not be able to lift the casket as high as needed as well; hose beds (where the hoses and casket ride) are higher than they used to be.
Retired firefighters in Tuscon, led by Frank Tamayo, a 25-year veteran of the Tuscon Fire Department, have come up with the Last Alarm Foundation. Their plan is to restore a 1954 Mack L Sedan Pumper as a firefighter’s hearse. Check them out, and see if you can help.
