CA Firefighter Funeral Marred by Shutdown

Frank Esposito, a 28-year Forest Service member from Hemet, was not given a full procession because of the government shutdown.

Jan. 27, 2019

The family of a California firefighter is upset that the recent government shutdown marred his funeral.

Frank Esposito, a 28-year member of the U.S. Forest Service from Hemet who died off duty, was not given a full funeral procession because of the furlough, KCAL-TV reports. Other California firefighters were able to come to Esposito's funeral in full uniform, but Forest Service firefighters could only attend in their crew Polo shirts.

"He dedicated a lot of his young life to the Forest Service," Jessica Rogers, Esposito's daughter, said in a video. "There were many summers that I remember, we'd rarely see each other as he was out there fighting those fires and doing what he loved to do."