SPC Joshua R. Farris, 22, KIA, Smithville, TX, 16, 18 July 2009

[markwells]

God bless our fallen solider, and may his family know he did not pass in vain. He is a Hero.

I'm new to the PGR, and I'm humbled and proud to be part of such a loving, supporting group.

This will be my second mission, but the first that includes bagpipes. I know I will cry, but I'll stand tall to honor Spc Joshua Farris.

I do look forward to meeting Texas Riders. I'll be in a cage, but I'll be there.

Be safe,
Wendy

p.s. what time in "o'clock?" this 1000 hrs makes me feel simple minded??!!

[markwells]

Wendy, thanks for joining and participating. You are doing the right thing for this young man and his family.

The 1000 hrs is 10:00 am on the 24 hr clock, same way of specifying time used by military, air traffic control, etc. Avoids the whole am/pm confusion. If you've ever set your alarm clock for the wrong time of day you know what I mean.

As soon as I get the Austin staging location from the mission RC (that's Ride Captain) we'll get the details for Saturday posted.

[texas coyote]

Wendy,
You are doing the right thing….and never be afraid to ask questions…
Welcome….You won't regret it…
TC

[markwells]

If anyone lives between Georgetown and Smithville and you are interested, several of us are leaving my House (1 mile west of Jonah on Hwy 29) at 07:15 Saturday morning, we will travel east on Hwy 29 to Hwy 95, we will go through Taylor, through Elgin via 95 until we hit Hwy 71 in Bastrop. We will travel East on Hwy 71 to the last service station on the right (I think it is a Chevron) just before arriving in Smithville. We will top off our tanks there and should arrive at the Funeral Home at approximately 08:40 for the staging there.
You are more than welcome to join us along the route, we will not stop so be prepared to just join up as we go by.
Thanks for all you do,
Frank James
Cell 512-773-7061
Home 512-869-1874
P.S Ditto to everything TC and Mark said Wendy, and Welcome aboard !!!

[markwells]

Wendy,

looking forward to meeting you.

Cannonball

[markwells]

I wish I could be there to make this mission. From Arkansas, may SPC Joshua R. Farris rest in peace. Prayers to his family and friends.

[texas coyote]

Once again I find myself amazed at members of the Patriot Guard Riders….Their gratitude and devotion to our Fallen Hero's is unmatched by anyone, simply because they know it's the right thing to do. Thanks Austin, CenTex and San Antonio. Thanks to all who where there today for Spc. Farris and his Family from Smithville to Johnson City and points beyond. And how about Dripping Springs? On very short notice they "Got it Together" What a turn out…You guys are great….
God Bless Spc. Joshua R. Farris…He gave it all and we shall never forget…
TC

[markwells]

Yes, hats off to the patriots of Dripping Springs, and to TC for alerting the right folks that SPC Farris and his family were coming through today. Don't mind saying my eyes weren't seeing too clearly for a bit, and I know I'm not alone.

And thanks again to APD for plowing the road through Austin for us once again.

I am humbled and thankful to be able to do what we do for our fallen and their families, and that their are so many of you who are willing to do the same.

[markwells]

yes indeed

[mototerry]

"Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less."
Robert E. Lee

Without question SPC Joshua Ferris not only did his duty he went beyond the call of duty. He is a true American Hero. My sincere thanks to every one who was there in body or in thoughts from afar. The Patriot Guard did it's duty and to the person it was an outstanding effort, I could not be more proud.

T.

[markwells]

What all of you have said X10…thanks to Terry and Steve and all others who coordinated this mission…..thanks Terry for the relief…I am getting better and soon should be able to stand for the Heros longer….

Weren't the APD and TCSO amazing…….

[mototerry]

Alton, you old warhorse you're so right…..APD and TCSO do an outstanding job! I have a neighbor who is also a good friend that is Motor 12 Travis County. He was part of the LEO team yesterday. I'm going to give him a shout out in a few minutes and pass along all of this deserved praise from all.

[markwells]

Scooter, TC and all members (AND LEO). What an honour to be associated with such wonderful Patriots! The Patriot Guard was represented by members from Waco all the way down to Houston and everywhere in between. I can only imagine the comfort provided to Marla and her family as they laid Joshua to rest.

I have finally finished posting the pictures and clips – just wish I could have been in more than one place. I was told the ride through Dripping Springs was amazing! The procession was so long arriving at the cemetery that I had to turn my camera off mid-stream because it isn't made for movies!

Here are a bunch of other links to stories, blogs and newscasts that may interest you. In particular Robbie Cooper of the UrbanGrounds site offered a poignant description of the ride through Dripping Springs. Not to mention his site is uberkewl!

urbangrounds.com/2009/07/18/spc-joshua-farris/
http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=246903
http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/071709kvuefarris-bkm.4f015ed0.html
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/07/16/0716farris.html#commentsanchor
http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.aspx?bookid=3625082200843

video:
http://www.kvue.com/news/local/stories/071709kvuefarris-bkm.4f015ed0.html

If anyone has pictures of Dripping Springs they want added to my PhotoBucket, feel free to email them to me!

[mototerry]

Alton's comments prompted me to send my neighbor and good friend Bob Ingram (aka Motor 12) and Deke Pierce (aka Motor 14) with TCSO a thank you note. They both worked the mission yesterday. I passed along the many comments I personally heard about the awesome job they and APD did.

Their replies:

Thanks for the kind comments. We try to look good for the family as I know it means alot to them. I'm passing this on to Sgt.Mancias. He appreciates kudos for our motor guys. Thanks again.

Bob

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bob and I saw you up front. Glad it went well, it is an honor for us. Thank you very much.

Deke

Also, thanks to everyone that helped Bob Binkley when his bike died. Recovery went well and we rolled his bike out of the trailer at his home in Round Rock around 1600. He informs today it was a bad battery (one year old) and he is back on the road again. If anyone thinks the PGR doesn't have a guardian angel ask me what unlikely circumstances were in place when the call went out for the trailer. I'll make a believer out of you!!

T.

[markwells]

Heartfelt thanks to all who showed up and made the ride to accompany this American Hero. The LEO support was excellent, these folks did a remarkable job. Thanks to TC and the Cen-Tex guys who had the cemetery set up for the arrival. Our participation in this mission was as it should be; seamless.

"Not for place or for rank
Not lured by ambition
Or goaded by necessity
But in simple
Obedience to duty
As they understood it
These men suffered all
Sacrificed all
Dared all….and Died …………"

Mission Accomplished.
cannonball

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