Photo: Ford, Brad
A procession of emergency service vehicles will be held Wednesday in honor of Oregon State Police Sergeant John Burright.
Sergeant Burright passed away on May 4, 2021, after a nearly 20-year battle after a tragic traffic incident left him with debilitating and career-ending injuries. His injuries were suffered on September 4, 2001, when he was struck at the side of Interstate 5 while assisting a disabled motorist. The incident instantly claimed the lives of Sr. Trooper Maria Mignano and Albany Police Department Officer Jason Hoerauf.
The procession will be starting at 10 a.m. at the Linn County Fairgrounds, located at 3700 Knox Butte Rd E in Albany. Members of the public are not allowed to participate in the procession, but are welcome to view the procession from sidewalks and overpasses along the route.
The procession is expected to include a large number of public safety vehicles. This map shows the exact route of the procession from the Linn County Fairgrounds past the Oregon State Police Albany Patrol Office, where Sgt. Burright spent most of his career. The procession then continues north on Interstate 5 to the Salem Armory for the memorial service.
During the procession, area travelers should be prepared for road closures, traffic congestion, and long delays along the route, especially on I-5 between Albany and Salem.
Members of the public attending the memorial service at the Salem Armory are encouraged to carpool, walk, or ride a bicycle. Public parking is available but limited.
The service will start at 1 p.m.
If members of the public wish to donate to support the Burright family, they may do so through the Oregon Fallen Badge Foundation. Donations may be made in person at any US Bank location or online through the “support us” tab on the Foundation’s website at www.oregonfallenbadge.com. All donations collected by the Foundation during this time will be given to the Burright family.