Since 1921, some 189 California Department of Transportation employees have died in the line of duty.
As part of the annual statewide Workers Memorial – held this year at the State Capitol building in Sacramento – Tamie McGowen, assistant deputy director of public affairs at Caltrans, provided a behind-the-scenes look at the logistics of the Workers Memorial ceremony.
[Above photo by Caltrans.]
“This day is one of the most important days for us in the entire year,” McGowen said in the video. “It this day we pay special tribute and honor to our fallen heroes. It is also a day to remember the importance of safety in work zones. Sometimes just mere seconds can mean the difference behind life and death.”
The memorial included a special tribute to San Diego maintenance lead worker William “Cas” Casdorph, 57, who died Sept. 19 along State Route 163. A dedicated family man, he served Caltrans for nearly 20 years.
