Fire Capt. Quang Leba, from Rancho Cucamonga, is attending David Rosa’s funeral as part of the Pipes and Drums Honor Guard.

“We have 84 members throughout the state,” explained Leba. “Our mission is to honor the brotherhood and we’re here today to  pay respects to Capt. Rosa.”

Quang said that each department has its own plaid kilt pattern and that the various department bands get together to perform “whenever the time comes.”

Pipes and drums are a huge tradition in the fire service, Leba said. Its roots are from the earliest days of American firefighting. “The Irish and the Scottish got into police and fire early on,” he said, adding, “Nothing beats the sound of bagpipes.”

— Melissa Evans and Valerie Osier