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6 of us arrived to stand the flag line w some having to ride through rain to get there. What a great group of patriots. The family arrived via a big bus & shortly after they all got inside, I dismissed the line so they could head to Elgin for the 2ns mission. We were thanked by several folks including some members of the APD.
Although cold, 8 of us showed up to honor Mr. Covarrubias & his family. His wife sent Sam out to thank us & let us know how much she appreciated our being there. Thank U all for what U mean to our fallen hero's family.
What a great event. Hundreds of folks with great big hearts were in attendance at today's ground breaking ceremony for Sgt Castille & his family. Sgt Castille spoke to all 14 of us from the PGR. We learned that not only had he served for 5 years in the Army, he served for 8 years before that in the United States Marine Corps.
Welcome home Sir, and thank you for your service. It was a tremendous honor to stand for you & your family today. We will see you when your new home is dedicated.It was still dark & very cold when I arrived. Soon Don arrived w the flags & he & I placed several along the front of the FH.before anyone else arrived. I soon met with the family & thanked them for allowing us the honor of standing for their hero.
After Terry arrived, we all got flags & added ourselves to the staked flags to form an honor line.
After the service started, we broke down the flag line. Because of the long down time to procession KSU, we departed till later.Three Patriot Guard Riders and four members of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle group participated in the procession from the Funeral Home to Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery.
Thank U Terry for getting the procession there safely.
If anyone wants to meet for breakfast, stop by the Pecan Street Grill @ 10th & Pecan, How bout around 7Am.
posted by permission of Ken
I want to thank you for the mission today. As you know, being the only Army grunt there, I inherited the honor of the Army Flag. As a result of that and the fact that you positioned the US & Army Flags directly in front of the casket, I had an absolutely unforgettable moving experience. I found myself about 6 feet in front of this young Marine (probably his grandson) fighting back his tears on the other side of the flag draped casket. I will never forget that. And his family and friends………….. God bless the people that still love our country. Thanks for the opportunity. Glad you’re a Ride Captain – keep up the good work.
Ken EshelmanThanks everyone. Great to ride with such a super bunch of 11 Patriots. We also had 4 friends of the fallen ride with us to the interment. We are most always thanked but today, everyone there came through the line & did so personally. It is such a good feeling to know that we really make a difference. Being invited by the family to participate is such a Hugh honor. Thanks to Don for the flags & to Warren for the prayer.
If anyone is interested, some of us will be meeting around 8:30 for breakfast at the Whataburger in San Marcos. Guadalupe & I-35
I arrived early & set up 6 flags on steaks for the folks arriving for the viewing & rosary. Parking was at a premium so we double parked the bikes in front of an outside line of cars because we would be leaving right after the service started. New PGR rider, Keith Rabun joined us making a total of 10 to stand for Mr Lindermann. Co worker, friend & PGR rider offered a prayer & some incite into Mr Lindermann. Thank U. And thanks to all of U for taking the time to "Stand for those who stood for us " .
With 2 missions at the same time today, I am really pleased at the great turn out in Bastrop for this Marine. We had 24 total including 8 rider friends of Abdu. New to PGR, transplants from Oregon, Chris & Tabatha joined us from Buda. Double duty RC Terry brought the flags he had from Thurs. mission. Judging from the many many comments, U once again showed how really important it is for all of us to show up at these mission to show respect to the fallen & their families & friends.
Thanks to each of U for all U do to get here & stand the flag line. It means so very very much.19 patriots stood the flag line including Gold Star Mother, Maria Gonzales, who drove up from Katy, Tx. Turns out, her son & Neil were best friends. In addition to holding the Gold Star Flag, she also provided all of us with cold drinks.
Chris, another close friend of Neil's, offered some very emotional appreciation words to all of us for being there for all of them & standing in honor of Neil. He & Maria walked the entire line thanking each one of us with hand shakes, hugs & tears. Also stopping to thank us was Neil's fiancee' Andrea (Andy). She too spoke of how special it was to her that we were there.
Family & friends numbered in the hundreds, some coming from out of state.
It goes w/o saying, U guys are simply the best for the honor U show the families & friends of our Military heroes. Thank u all so very much.Dodging rain to get there, 8 members & new member Paul, stood a flag line to honor Mr. William's long service. Thanks to Don F for the flags & to RC trainee Jimmy C for the briefing.
Please keep Don in your prayers as his biopsy came back as positive for throat cancer.As many of know, Austin PGR has a Ride Captain in training. Jimmy C. has been tagging along w the RC so as to learn 1st hand the ins & outs of the position. Such was the case at Thurs mission. He walked w me as I made my way into the church & talked to the FD & did the various other things that we do. During the briefing, I gave him the mission briefing I had prepared from the email notification & obit along w the standard briefing cards that Terry made for us. During the procession, I placed him directly behind me. With cont. practice & guidance he is going to develop into a fine RC.
Thank U Jimmy for accepting the RC in training position. I look forward to working w U again.Today was tough for many reasons but the riders & Don hung in there & showed the family & friends that America cares deeply for our men & women in uniform. Many have asked over the years, why we do this. The answer is simple. Because of what it means to the family & service members that we honor & respect. Thank you to all those that serve in harms way & may God grant you comfort & peace in your loss.
The procession was hot BUT not as hot as what our military has to endure in the middle east. Upon arrival at CTVC, the cemetery was packed with vehicles including a bus. It was a big turn out. After the ceremony, many stopped & thanked us for what we do & what it means to them. So, thank U PGR. U are super.
What an amazing group of patriots we have in the Austin PGR. Do to unforeseen & very last minute issues, I did not make it to the mission. But true to our "Semper Gumby" patch (Always Flexible), 2 of our riders, Warren & Charles, stepped up, took charge & carried out the mission w/o a hitch. All bikes were at the front of the procession as usual & formed a flag line upon arrival at the cemetery. A 12 yr old played taps on a real bugle & was fantastic. Warren retrieved the flag from the casket & after the customary rendering of the hand salutes, Charles presented it to the family.
The Masons also preformed their customary ceremony because Woody was a Mason.
There were 7 riders, 2 guests & Don with the flag truck.
OUTSTANDING guys! PS Nicki was there on her own ride. Yahoooooooo Good to have U back & riding again.
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