2013 Annual Memorial Torch Relay



The Palmdale segment of the 36th Annual Memorial Torch Relay to honor the dedicated peace offices in Los Angeles County who sacrificed their lives while on duty was completed today. The Memorial Torch Relay was established in 1976 and consists of 56 legs of approximately 5 to 10 miles each. The Relay began on May 17th, and ended on May 19th, at the Altadena Sheriff's Station.



The Palmdale segment of the Memorial Torch Relay began at approximately 4:30 AM on Sunday, May 19th, at the corner of Sierra Highway and Avenue N in the City of Palmdale. The Lancaster Sheriff's Explorer Unit passed the torch to the Palmdale Relay Team. The Palmdale runners continued to relay the torch until it was passed to the La Crescenta Sheriff's Team at the Monte Cristo Camp Grounds on Angeles Forest Highway. The Palmdale Team carried the torch along Sierra Highway and then along Angeles Forest Highway from the Antelope Valley floor at 2,565 feet to the segment's highest elevation at Mill Creek Summit at 4,914 feet; a rise in elevation of 2,349 feet.



The Memorial Torch Relay this year honored Deputy Constable Charles De Moranville, Deputy Harry S. Guard and Deputy Emma Benson of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Chief Henry P. Tracy of the Pomona Police Department. Each of these officers were killed in the line of duty between 1909 and 1919.



The Palmdale Team consisted of a Lieutenant, Sergeants, Deputies, Reserve Deputies, Sheriff's Department civilian personnel and their family members. The Palmdale support team consisted of Reserve Deputies and Civilian Volunteers.