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We had 8 PGR members at the memorial service and interment service in Taylor today, standing in honor for another gentleman from the Greatest Generation, Mr. Albert Harry Zeplin. Albert served in the US Army Air Corps during WWII from 1942 to 1945 in the European Theater as an aircraft mechanic and was discharged as a sergeant after the war ended. Albert was married for 56 years and his extended family in attendance today were very appreciative of our gathered PGR group. I was also told by one of the FH staff that Albert would have turned 100 years old on tomorrow, Friday 9/3/21/. We also welcomed first-time PGR rider Robert Lee Collins of Cedar Creek, TX on todays mission. I thank you all who took time out of your day to make a difference in someone’s life today…it was clearly evident we did just that! Godspeed Albert Zeplin and thank you for your service good sir!
There were 7 Patriots standing tall in honor of LTC (US Army Ret.) Eugene Cargile today in Leander. Thankfully there was a nice breeze we all enjoyed in the covered area where we set our flag-line near the church entrance. LTC Cargile’s family, including his wife Eddie, made a point to come outside and thank each one of us personally with heart-felt gratitude. In talking to them all, we found out his daughter rides with the PGR in Washington DC and she was especially grateful of our presence today to honor her father. Our presence today was really well received and appreciated and I thank all who took time out of your day to make a difference. It was also really nice to see an old friend of our Austin PGR group, former PGR Ride Captain Juan Gonzales, in attendance of the memorial service to LTC Cargile. Thank you for your dedicated service to our country LTC Cargile and Godspeed good sir!
We had 8 PGR Riders stand in honor of Mr. Doug Rush today. It was a small area we had for the service with quite a few family and friends in attendance, so our group flanked the gathered attendees under some shade trees and two of us were up in front with the US Navy flag and Old Glory. Don did an outstanding job of arranging a welcoming array of static flags that really made a statement. After the service ended, Doug’s urn was placed in a vault by his family and I got to speak with most of them. I presented our card of condolences to his wife…they we’re all so thankful for our presence today to honor Doug’s memory. Thank you all who took time out of your day to stand tall for Mr. Rush. Godspeed and rest in peace Doug, and thank you for your service!
Jimmy Callison, R/C
8 Austin PGR Riders had the honor of standing tall today for another gentleman from the Greatest Generation, Mr. Jack Howell, 96, a veteran of WWII as a USMC Aviator. Jack’s son took time to talk to a few of us about his father and thanked us for being there for him.
After a change of plans (it was a Semper Gumby day today) it was decided that our PGR group would form a flag-line behind the hearse to escort it from the mausoleum to the gravesite, a short distance away. All went well at first and as planned, until the hearse driver sped up faster than we could walk. About half our forward line did an impromptu “double-time” in trying to keep up with the hearse but it was all for naught. Once we regrouped, we rendered honors for Mr. Howell and then formed a second flag-line for his graveside service. For many years, one of Jack’s passions was drag boat racing and a group of his racing friends had towed a sleek 3000hp drag-boat graveside to give him a spectacular sendoff at the conclusion of the service. It was an amazing sendoff…rest in peace Jack Howell and thank you for your service to our great country!Jim Callison
AUS/PGR R/CCompleted Mission report for Mr. Joe Riojas:
We had a really nice turnout of 13 PGR Riders today to stand in the warm & sunny weather to honor Mr. Joe Riojas, another proud WWII US Army Veteran from the Greatest Generation. It was especially nice to have (7) members of the San Antonio PGR group, who rode up and stood tall with our AUS group at both the church service and burial service. My thanks to SA/PGR & Deputy State Captain, Bob “Pizza-man” Johnson for leading the SA group here and thank you all for taking time out of your day to honor Mr. Riojas. And lastly, thank you Mr. Riojas for your dedicated Service good sir, Godspeed and Rest in Peace!
Jimmy Callison
AUS/PGR R/CWe had a nice turnout of 11 Patriots to stand in honor today for Sergeant First Class Luciano Garcia, U.S Army (Ret). The service was over fairly quickly and everyone waited a few extra minutes for the LEO escort to show. The ride portion to the cemetery down in San Marcos from the church in Kyle went smoothly onto and off of I-35 & the city streets of San Marcos, although an LEO cruiser got a little too close for comfort to rider Keith Rabun on the way there. Just glad Keith saw what he saw in time and reacted accordingly. Also, it was REALLY great to see long-time AUS/PGR Ride Captain Andy "Andyman" Lough there with us today, riding his scoot and standing both flag-lines. Welcome back Andy and good to see you! I thank all of you who took time out of your day to honor MSG Garcia…Godspeed to you good sir and thank you for your service!
Jimmy Callison
AUS/PGRA total of 6 Patriots stood tall in honor of Robert "Bert" Smith today. Bert served in the United States Army in the 82nd Airborne Division from 1968 to 1972 and left the service as a corporal. Luckily for us, our 6-man flag-line fit perfectly inside the shaded and much cooler portico leading to the main door of the funeral home. There were many compliments and "thank you's" given to all of us from family and friends of Bert before and after the service. We stood down during the memorial service and then reformed in the portico awhile later to render honors as the casket was loaded into the hearse. Along with three APD motor units, a total of five bikes then safely escorted the hearse from the funeral home to Bert's final resting place at Onion Creek Memorial Cemetery. I thank all of you for taking the time out of your day to honor this gentleman. RIP and Godspeed Bert and thank you for your service!
Jim Callison – R/C
A beautiful day and a fantastic turnout of 16 Patriots standing tall this morning in honor for Mr. Robert Hamilton, a US Army veteran. We also had the honor of welcoming first-time rider(s) Ted and his son Daniel, who rode down from Belton to attend the mission. There were quite a few "thank you, guys" given out to us from arriving family members which just goes to show how much we do make a difference. My thanks to all who took time out of your day today to make a difference for Mr. Hamilton's family. Godspeed Robert and thank you for your service!
Jimmy Callison – R/C
Nice turnout of 9 Patriots today to stand in honor of Carroll "Karo" Morrison, a US Army veteran from the Korean War, at both his memorial service in N Austin and internment service in Liberty Hill. We also had in our company on both parts of this mission, first-time rider Don from San Antonio. Thank you Don and welcome! It was a long ride from N Austin to Liberty Hill but it went "fairly" smooth thanks to the outstanding efforts of the LEO escort the whole way. "Karo" Morrison's wife of 61 years and his family were extremely appreciative of our presence at both of his services. Thank you all who attended today to honor this fine gentleman and thank you Karo for your service to our Country, may you rest in peace!
Jim Callison, R/C
We had a total of 10 hardy Patriots who braved the chilly rains and drizzle today to stand in honor of MSG Jesse Greene. Don put out an awesome display of static flags around the perimeter that was visually stunning…thank you Don! I thank each of you who took time out of your day to honor MSG Greene, it sure showed in the faces of the arriving guests how profoundly we made a difference. Rest In Peace MSG Greene and thank you for your years of gallant service to our Nation!
Jim Callison, R/C
We had a really good showing today of 12 Patriots to stand in honor for MSgt Fennis Eugene Carter Jr. on a beautiful, sunny Texas Saturday morning. Two of our riders, Sammy & Sassy, rode all the way in from Houston to attend…thank you both! This was a very large service in attendance and our flag-line made a huge visual impression. Along with Don's artistic taste in placing a number of static flags, we had numerous compliments and thank-you's from arriving family and friends. Thank you for your service MSgt. Carter, RIP & Godspeed sir!
Jimmy Callison, R/C
We had a nice turnout of 10 Patriots in the first of 2 missions today to stand in honor for Quenton "Wayne" Dean, who served in the US Airforce and USAF Reserves. Wayne's family and friends were very touched by our presence in the chilly weather conditions and quite a few walked our flag-line to personally thank each of us. Thank you all who braved the cold and made a difference to this family. RIP Wayne and thank you for your service!
Jim Callison, R/C
It was one beautiful Texas fall morning today and we had 5 Patriots standing in honor for MSG Donald Marquart, US Army (Ret). His daughter and son-in-law came over to our group before the service to thank us all and tell us how much they appreciated us being there. My thanks to all who took time out of their day today to honor MSG Donald Marquardt's long service to our country and his years of service helping veterans.
Jim Callison
AUS/PGR R/CWe finally got a nice break from the Texas heat today during our mission honoring Jimmy N. Proctor, US Army Viet Nam veteran. A total of eight Patriots stood tall in the flag-line for his funeral service in Georgetown and four of us escorted the coach to his final resting place at CTSVC in Killeen where we joined CENTEX PGR to stand another flag-line for that service. Jimmy Nick's family was so appreciative of our presence at both services and quite a number came up to us to tell us so and there were hugs and hand-shakes all around. Thank you all who took time out of your day to honor Jimmy Nick, it's humbling to witness the outpouring of gratitude from what we all do. Don, the special touch you give to each mission by placing out all the extra flags is outstanding, thank you sir! Rest in peace Jimmy Nick and thank you for your service to our nation.
Jimmy Callison,
AUS/PGR RCWe had nice turnout of 14 Patriots standing tall for Mr. Richard White today and it was awesome to have long-time PGR R/C Dick Ward standing along with us. So good to see you old friend! Mr. White's family was appreciative of our presence and his daughter came over to our group before the service to express their gratitude. In her choked-up words to me she said, "He was mighty proud of his Army". Thank you Richard White for your dedicated service to our Nation…Godspeed and well done sir! And thank you to all of the Patriots who took time out of your day today to honor him and as always, thank you Don for a great job of wrangling the flags.
JimmyC
PGR R/C
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