SGT Mario Rodriguez Jr., 24, KIA, US Army, Smithville, TX

Updated 21 June 2010

SGT Mario Rodriguez of Smithville was killed in action in Afghanistan on 11 June 2010. We were honored to join his family in receiving him home to central Texas on Sunday and will join them again as this American hero is laid to rest.

Funeral and Interment Itinerary

Date/Time: Tuesday, 22 June 2010. Services scheduled to begin at 10:00 am

Location: First Baptist Church, 300 Hudgins St, Smithville, TX. The church is located at the intersection of Hudgins and Loop 230 (N 3rd St). Map link: tinyurl.com/FirstBaptistSmithville

Interment to follow at Waelder Cemetery, Waelder, TX

Austin Staging Location: Valero station, located at the southwest corner of Hwy 71 & FM 1209. This is approx. 13 miles east of the Hwy 71 & SH130 intersection. Map link: tinyurl.com/Valero71-1209. For those going directly to the church, see location info above.

Staging timeline:
7:55 – 8:25 am staging
8:25 am briefing
8:30 am KSU for the 20 mile ride to the church

Notes: Upon arrival at the church we will park in the annex parking lot across the street from the church. We will establish a flag line by 0920 hrs. At the conclusion of the funeral service we will join the procession to Waelder Cemetery, approx. 25 miles south of Smithville, for the interment service. Parking at the cemetery will likely not be paved, so a side stand puck is advised.

Wx: Mostly sunny, high 97 degrees. Arrive fed, fueled, and hydrated. Bring plenty of drinking water, and drink it. Riding through the heat will dehydrate you quickly. Sunblock highly recommended.

Ride Captain: Russ (Ghost) Miller, milinscon@suddenlink.net, 512-863-9692
Flag Wrangler: Johnny Hughes

SGT Rodriguez gave all he had to give in service to our Country and the cause of freedom. Please make plans to stand tall and silent in gratitude for his sacrifice.

The story in the Smithville Times about SGT Rodriguez's death.

http://smithvilletimes.com/2010/06/14/smithville-soldier-killed-in-afghanistan/

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and
keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home
and abroad, especially SGT Mario Rodriguez Jr and his family, for who we pray. Defend them day by day with your heavenly
grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give
them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant
them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

cap'n cannonball

i will be there, if my ACU's are in, i will come in uniform, keep us posted. This young man was in south afghan when an rpg missle shot his copter down.

work permitting I will proudly stand for this young hero,
medspec

No hero will ever come home without someone there to receive him. Count on me to be thre for him now and always.

Riding in memory of those who never had somone there. Heros everyone of them,