RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. -- Thousands of law enforcement officers gathered in Rancho Cordova Wednesday to attend a memorial service for two Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies who were killed in a helicopter crash last week.

The memorial for the helicopter pilot, 36-year-old Joseph Kievernagel, and 29-year-old Kevin Blount, an observer, was held at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, on Coloma Road.

Speakers at the service included Sacramento County Sheriff Lou Blanas, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, California Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, as well as family members and fellow officers.

"(Kievernagel and Blount), you're gone, but you'll never be forgotten," said Sacramento County Sheriff's Department representative Jamie Lewis.

"Kevin and Joe built such a close relationship with each other that they earned many nicknames, including Batman and Robin, peanut butter and jelly," Blanas said.

"I'm going to miss running outside every time I hear a helicopter," said Laurie Blount, Kevin's sister.

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Map: Procession Route I Video: Procession I Video: Memorial I Video: Motorcade
Video: Public Pays Respects

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Friends, family and co-workers remembered the two during the service, saying that Blount was a prankster who had a serious side when it came to his job, and that Kievernagel was a good family man.

The mourners watched a touching video that chronicled the deputies' lives from when they were children to their adult careers.

"These officers were role models, friends, beat partners. They were our heroes in the sky," Blanas said.

Among the thousands of people who attended Wednesday's service, were officers from other law enforcement departments and strangers who simply wanted to pay their respects.

Several people lined the streets outside the church simply to say thank you to the men for their service to the community.

Following the memorial service, a processional motorcade left the church. The motorcade started on Coloma Road and moved to westbound Highway 50. From there, the motorcade continued to the Capital City Freeway, connected to eastbound Interstate 80, exited I-80 at Greenback Lane, and ended at Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church.

People also lined freeway overpasses as the funeral procession made its way across town.