Austin – Roger R. Bales 65, US Army Vietnam Veteran

[markwells]

[markwells]

Confirmed Mission: The Patriot Guard Riders have been invited to participate in the service of Roger R. Bales 65, SFC (Ret) U.S. Army Vietnam veteran. He also served in several different countries.
SFC Bales served for 20 years and was awarded the Bronze Star.
Roger was a founding member of the “Good Ol’ Boys” organization who honored the wounded warriors and their families by taking them hunting, fishing, and cooking and serving them BBQ.
http://www.army.mil/article/37420/__039_Real_heart_of_America__039__treated_to_BBQ__music__camaraderie/

http://www.4-thefallen.org/4-the-fallen-honors-a-san-antonio-vietnam-veteran.html

Date/Time: Tuesday, January 21st, 2014, 12:30pm
Location: Pennington Funeral Home, 323 N. Comanche, San Marcos, Texas goo.gl/maps/F6y00

Directions: We will stage at the Cracker Barrel, 550 Old San Antonio Rd, Buda Tx. South bound IH 35 take exit 220 and make the right turn into the Cabela’s parking area. Take the first right turn in the parking lot going north to Old San Antonia Rd, turn right and Cracker Barrel will be on the left side.
goo.gl/maps/36oSd
Timeline: 
10:40am – 11:00am Staging 
11:00am – Mission/Ride Briefing
11:20am – KSU/Ride to Funeral Home

Wx: Lo -38, hi – 63 Partly cloudy (KVUE Wx
Notes:   Please arrive on time with tanks topped off and hydrate prior to the mission. Bring a bottle of water for yourself and one for a friend. Dress for the weather (check before leaving). Gas and food (Cracker Barrel/Dan’s) available within two blocks of staging. We will depart the funeral home at 12:30pm participating in the LEO escorted procession to the Kyle Cemetery for full military honors (Graveside service only).
goo.gl/maps/wx8We

Ride Captain: Keith Longacre 512-751-8955 keithlongacre@att.net
Flag Wrangler: Keith Longacre

Please make plans to attend this ceremony to stand for this Vietnam veteran who served his country, and continued giving to his community by helping those at Brooke Army Medical Center.

[markwells]

If you are attending this mission on your motorcycle, you might want to bring a sidestand pad to use, due to the condition of the ground there.

[keithlongacre]

Contacted the FH today & they advised the procession will leave apx. 12:30, travel up I-35, go through downtown Kyle & then to cemetery. Service is at 1:00.

I'm told there is a biker bar in Kyle for visiting afterwards if U like. ask Max.

[keithlongacre]

Great day to be a PGR rider. 22 plus rode & stood in honor for Veteran Bales & his family. They could not have been more gracious & appreciative. You patriots DO make a difference. thank U all.

[markwells]

I wasn't sure who to send this to. Please pass along my email, if there is a more appropriate contact.

Today was the funeral of a very wonderful man – and my cousin, Roger Randy Bales, in Kyle, TX. As he was ex-military, a group of Patriot Guard Riders led the procession and then stood by with flags around us at the grave site.

I knew they were going to be involved in Randy's funeral. And I've heard about the PGR through the years – and have seen videos of what takes place. But seeing it in person was beyond words. And knowing that my sweet cousin got such respect and honor from these incredible people means more than I can even say. Your presence there was so, so appreciated and really made such an impact on all of us.

I wasn't able to go down the line and shake each of their hands, but I wanted to. My Mom did. And, as she thanked each one for coming, they all responded with "It was my honor to do so." Many of them said that Randy was their best friend. The fact that all of them considered being there an honor to them and something that they wanted to do makes me tear up even now. What a wonderful, incredible group of people you are.

I know Randy really wanted the PGR to be present at his funeral. And I know it means so much to all of the family that you were. He got the kind of funeral he deserved. He served us – and now he was getting the respect for it.

A "thank you" really isn't enough for all you did today. Know that your coming today really made a difference and was very much appreciated by all of us. You truly are wonderful, loving people to do that for the families and for the veterans themselves.

Linda Rudd

[markwells]

Keith,all I can say is You guys here in this part of Texas did a Very nice Job on your Mission today.I not only felt Honored to Ride with your Group of Members but felt very Proud to have been included.
The entire Bales Family wanted me to let you know how much they appreciated All of the Riders that attended todays services.
I hope to Ride with ya'll again one day and want to extend that Any PGR Member from your Group that ever need anything while in Southern Oklahoma,I am at their Service,Be it Rest,broke down….Or just to stop for a cold one.
Thank You Sir!!
David Roden
South East Oklahoma Patriot Guard Riders
580-564-0583 24/7
Please feel free to share this in your group

[markwells]

Please pass this on to your forum and members.

I want to thank everyone that expressed condolences and participated in my brothers funeral in San Marcos. The sight and sound of 20 plus motorcycles pulling up in front of the funeral home gave his wife, children and grandchildren a feeling of pride knowing that Roger was being taken home by his fellow veterans. The sight of the procession traveling on I-35 with the police shutting down all lanes so no traffic was anywhere around and the procession through the small town in Kyle where he was buried was a sight to see. Roger was a private man, never talked much about his service or what he did to help fellow vets but shortly before he passed he told me he did not want to sneak out of town and be buried. With the help of the Austin and San Antonio PGR and others that traveled from as far away as Oklahoma Roger did anything but sneak out of town. From my entire family to the entire PGR family I say thank you.
____________________________________
Bob Bales
US Army SFC Retired 1973-1994

[markwells]

This was sent to Ride Captain Keith Longacre:

I want to thank you and all the riders who participated in my husbands funeral. He thought very highly of your organization.
Your team was very respectful and provided a ray of sunshine on a very sad day for my family.
Again, thank you for your service to our country and its soldiers, sailors and airmen.

Sincerely.
Mrs. Roger Bales and Family

[Author]

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