Ladder trucks from Winona Lake and Turkey Creek Fire Territory draped the American flag across Main Street in downtown Milford on Friday, July 31, in honor of Milford volunteer firefighter Mitchell Price.

Text and Photos By Keith Knepp, Tim Ashley, Nicholette Carlson, Phoebe Muthart and Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

MILFORD — Friday afternoon downtown Milford took on a somber tone as lifetime area resident Mitchell J. Price made his final call as a Milford volunteer firefighter. The 10-42 call commemorating Price and his 31 years as a community servant was made shortly before 3 p.m. with Price’s casket ensconced within the department’s utility truck in front of the Milford Fire Station.

Following the funeral service at New Life Christian Church & World Outreach in Warsaw, Price’s body was escorted up SR 15, making a right turn at CR 900W before heading into Milford on Old SR 15.

Dozens of citizens, fellow fire fighters from several area departments and workers at numerous Milford businesses, including CTB, where Price worked, lined the streets of town to pay their final respects.

Fire trucks from Syracuse and Winona Lake raised their ladders into the bright July sky to fly an enormous American flag across the intersection of Main and Emeline streets, one block north of the fire station. Many people riding in the funeral procession seemed in awe of the many people, both familiar and unfamiliar, came out to honor Price.

The procession continued up Main Street, turning left onto Syracuse Street on its way to Milford Cemetery, on CR 50 West, which will be Price’s final resting place.