1,000 expected at memorial

Four weeks after 300 friends and co-workers turned out to celebrate Capt. Mike Biaggini's retirement, those same people - and hundreds of others - are expected Saturday to mourn his death from colon cancer.

The 55-year-old veteran Douglas County law enforcement officer died at his home Feb. 17. His retirement party Jan. 30 gave people an opportunity to say good-bye to their friend and colleague.

On Saturday, he will be memorialized with full department honors. The ceremony, at 11 a.m. at St. Gall Pastoral Center in Gardnerville, is expected to draw up to 1,000 people.

At 10:30 a.m., a procession of law enforcement officers and East Fork Fire & Paramedic Districts personnel will leave the sheriff's office in Minden and make its way to the pastoral center.

Deputy Les Vido is driving the lead vehicle, Biaggini's department-issued Chevy Tahoe, which will contain his honor guard hat, an American flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol and his ashes. The family will follow in a limousine that was donated by Harrah's casino.

Vido is Biaggini's cousin by marriage.

Pastor Pete Nelson, Sheriff Ron Pierini, Jim Valentine, representing Pop Warner, and two family members are to speak during the one-hour ceremony. At the conclusion of remarks and a flag ceremony, guests will be escorted outside for a final salute and dismissal.

The program also will feature bagpipes and a trumpeter. The memorial is to be followed by a reception.

"It's a very formal ceremony and follows paramilitary protocol," Pierini said. "It's what Mike wanted, and it will be done well. The honor guard, of which he was such an integral part, has been practicing hard and we will be showing our respect to Mike."

Pierini said the pastoral center was selected because it could accommodate the crowd.

"We're very pleased with the response from other agencies," Pierini said. "Carson City and South Lake Tahoe have both offered to assign units to our area during the service so our deputies can attend Mike's memorial. The support has just been overwhelming."

Law enforcement agencies are sending honor guard members from Carson City, Lyon, Storey and Washoe counties, Las Vegas Metropolitan and Reno police departments, Nevada Highway Patrol, South Lake Tahoe Police Department and Alpine and Mono counties' sheriff's departments.

The memorial and the reception are open to the public.

Pierini said some people might prefer to pay their respects by watching the motorcade as it travels from the sheriff's office, south on Highway 395 to Gilman Avenue by Sharkey's casino where it will make the turn to the pastoral center on Centerville Lane.

DETAILS

Memorial service for Douglas County Sheriff's Capt. Mike Biaggini, 11 a.m. Saturday, St. Gall Pastoral Center, 1343 Centerville Road, Lane. Service will be followed by a reception

A motorcade leaves the sheriff's office on Eighth Street at 10:30 a.m. and travels down Highway 395 turning at Gilman Avenue at Sharkey's casino for the pastoral center on Centerville Road.