Old Miners Days To Salute Officers Who Protected Big Bear During Dorner Manhunt

This year's annual Big Bear Heritage Parade, in celebration of 65 years of Old Miners Days festivities, will recognize and honor the community's emergency personnel who protected the mountain community during the hunt for fugitive Christopher Dorner.

The parade, put on by the Old Miners Association of Big Bear Lake as part of Old Miners Days, is themed "Big Bear Thanks You," in gratitude for the officers and first responders who protected Big Bear during the three-county manhunt for Dorner in February.

Dorner, a former Navy Reservist and Los Angeles Police Department officer, is believed to have killed the daughter of a former LAPD captain and her fiancé. The manhunt for Dorner led to the deaths of two officers – Riverside police Officer Michael Crain and San Bernardino County sheriff's Detective Jeremiah MacKay.

Related: SoCal Manhunt

MacKay's partner, Deputy Alex Collins, who was critically injured during the manhunt, will serve as the parade's grand marshal.

Authorities found Dorner dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after an hours-long standoff and fire that burned down the Big Bear cabin in which he was barricaded.

Guests can salute Collins and other first responders in a pre-parade reception at the Big Bear Convention Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The meet-and-greet opportunity, hosted by OMA and American Legion Post 584, will include the posting of colors by an All-Service Color Guard at noon and remarks from local officials and military representatives, including Congressman Paul Cook, USMC retired, and Sheriff McMahon.

Old Miners Days' Big Bear Heritage Parade

June 15
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
(909) 584-5949
oldminers.org

Desiree Eaglin blogs at Sarcastic, Funny and Brutally Honest. You can find her on Twitter too.