Edward P, Cruz, 75, USMC/Vietnam veteran, Austin, TX, 18 June 2024

[markwells]

Confirmed Mission: The family of Edward Patrick Cruz has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to participate in his funeral service.  Mr. Cruz served in Vietnam as an M-60 Machine Gunner (0331) in Hotel Company 2nd Battalion 7th Marines (1969-1970) under Platoon Commander Lt. Donald R. Garett.  He was awarded the Purple Heart as well as the Department of Navy Commendation Medal (with Combat “V”) for Heroic Achievement .

More about his life can be read here.

Date/Time: Tuesday, 18 June 2024.  Rosary begins at 12:30 with a Funeral Mass following at 1 pm.

Location: San Jose Catholic Church, 2435 Oak Crest Ave, Austin, TX 78704.  Map link.

Timeline:
11:30 am – 12:00 pm – Staging
12:00 pm  – Briefing
12:10 pm – Flag line

Wx: High 93 deg F, rain chance 50%

Notes:  Following the start of the funeral service we will strike the flag line and depart quietly.

Ride Captain: Soup Campbell, robertsoupcampbell@yahoo.com, (512) 925-2104
Flag Wrangler: Soup Campbell

Please attend to honor this Marine’s faithful service.

[SoupCampbell]

Mission Complete.

There were only 3 of us there to honor this hero but it worked out well. Nicki arrived early and was able to locate both entrances to the church/school complex and get flags staked there.

Mrs. Cruz arrived early, before the casket and came to greet us and thank us for being there. She conveyed, emotionally, her strong feelings of pride when she drove into the parking lot and saw the Marine Corps flag we had posted in our staging area. She was moved and expressed several times how grateful she was that we were there. Shortly thereafter, the hearse arrived and I greeted the funeral director to determine which entrance to the church they were going to use and also offered our assistance as they did not have pallbearers available. They did not need help so Warren and I posted between the hearse and the entrance and rendered honors as they moved him inside.

Nicki is not able to stand for long periods due to her recent knee replacement so Warren and I were the flag line. The good part about that is that no one had to stand in the hot sun. We posted at the church entrance which was under the roof. We were greeted by the brother and sister who both were very appreciative of our presence. The flag line stood a little longer than usual as we stood for the Rosary which was 30 mins prior to the funeral. We stood down a couple of minutes after the funeral started and no arriving attendees were inbound.

While our numbers were small, the appreciation for our participation was as strong as ever so this was very successful mission. Thanks Warren for being there so I did not have to hold 2 flags!!

RIP Edward Patrick Cruz, USMC

Soup Campbell, Ride Captain

[Author]

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