One of the altars at a City Heights Dia de los Muertos celebration honors the San Diego police officer killed in the line of duty two months ago.
Moments before he was shot and killed while sitting in his patrol car on August 6, SDPD Officer Jeremy Henwood stopped at the McDonald’s on Fairmount Avenue.
Henwood graciously bought a child food while buying his dinner.
That moment was remembered by an altar with a cardboard sign titled “Our Heroes” which included photos of officers killed in the line of duty including Henwood. Nearby was a yellow safety police vest, a McDonald’s bag and a cup of McDonald’s coffee.
Some 25 altars were built by residents and community groups as part of the City’s Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead.)
Some focus on alcoholism or immigration but overall they are a celebration of life said Enrique Gandarilla, Executive Director of the City Heights Business Association, one of the organizations that helped coordinate the festival.
Scholars have traced the practice back to indigenous observances more than 2,000 years ago according to organizers.
Local
Along with school tours, cultural performances were planned from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at the City Heights Urban Village Park on Fairmount Avenue next to the City Heights' Weingart Public Library.
