[keithlongacre]

I wanted to take time this weekend to send a thank you to. You and your guard members for helping salute my farther Charles Covill back on March 7th. Of this year
Please extend mtly thanks to all who participated. We received many compliments on your group that day. Here are some pictures that were taken that day..

Thanks again,
Diann Covill Hill

Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Note® Edge, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

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[keithlongacre]

“I wanted to take time this weekend to send a thank you to. You and your guard members for helping salute my farther Charles Covill back on March 7th. Of this year

Please extend my thanks to all who participated. We received many compliments on your group that day. Here are some pictures that were taken that day.”

Thanks again,
Diann Covill Hill

[keithlongacre]

All, Today we got good news from Nicki’s Orthopedic Surgeon. No surgery required, at least for the near term. Follow-up next week. R rash is healing well. Knees still swollen a little but healing. Not much worse than before the crash as she was having treatments trying to avoid replacement. Ankle is the big problem. Very sore. Dr. said she could put weight on it to the extent she could stand the pain without worrying about damaging it further. Her spirits are up considerably today. Mine too!!! Thanks again for being there for us. If anyone is cruising Spicewood, feel free to stop in, she would love to see you.
Marebear, could you please pass this along to Hank and Sam, I don’t have their emails.

Soup & Nicki 317 Kendall DR. Ph: 512-925-2104

[keithlongacre]

“This message goes to all my bothers and sisters of the Austin Patriot Guard Riders. Hi, this is Nicki Campbell, the rider who went down on our Thursday mission for Mr. Thompson. I sincerely apologize to the Thompson family for our riders not making it to complete our mission at the cemetery because of my accident.

First, let me convey what an honor it is to ride with Austin PGR. I have felt your prayers for my recovery and appreciate all the offered assistance to both my husband, Soup, and I. You all showed up at the hospital, helped with the police report, assisted with getting my bike towed, and showed support that is unparalleled.

I especially would like to thank Charles, who stayed with us at the hospital until after 8PM so that he could make sure Soup made it home safely. Both Charles and Keith have kept communication about my progress going, so that I did not have to. Hank and Sam stayed at the scene and coordinated with the tow service and brought stuff off the bike that could have been easily pilfered and even offered to haul my bike back to Spicewood. Then they both showed up at the hospital. Warren led Soup to the hospital using his GPS and visited me for awhile. This is the guy with the beautiful new trike that I hit!!!! Marebear, the Deputy State Captain, Centex region also came to the hospital with offers of support above and beyond. I am sure there others who helped that I am not aware of. Thank you to all.

Please know that Soup and I feel blessed to be a part of such a great group of people. We hope to complete many more missions with you and look forward to doing our part in Austin PGR.

Nicki Campbell"

[keithlongacre]

Update on Nicki. I have heard from Charles, Soup & Nicki her self.

She does have some soreness in her shoulder and they put stitches in her right arm at her elbow as well as her left elbow and they have put her in a walking cast on her right leg and gave her crutches. They can't find any signs of a concussion and she's in good spirits.

Charles stayed with Soup & Nicki all day long and refused to leave till soup did, so he could make sure he got home ok. Then Charles rode w Soup back to his house & got home himself around 12:30 AM. Nickie didn't get home till around 1am. Soup emailed me expressing how impressed with and thankful for the tremendous support from their new PGR friends.

Soup took Nicki to Orthopedic surgeon for eval. on her ankle & shoulder the nx day. As long as she don’t get any infections he thinks she will be good as new in a month or so. They are waiting for ct scan results on her foot/ankle, hoping no surgery will be required. Will find out by end of next week. Quote from Soup "I know we been get’n prayers from our fellow PGR buds and I can say with a fair amount of optimism that they have been answered. Thanks to all. Soup"

Charles, Thank U so much for everything you have done in this event. I, the Austin PGR members & for sure the Campbell's really really appreciate it.

HANG IN THERE GIRL, WE LOVE YOU

[keithlongacre]

We had 11 bikes & 2 cages at the FH, w 12 patriots standing a flag line for this Marine/retired APD officer. When service started, the flag line retreated to Don's flag truck & we stood down for the 2 hour wait for departure to CTSVC. The family & FD wanted us up front of the Coach w 2 flag bikes in front of the family car just behind the Coach as we usually are. This is our normal position anyway as it not only allows the family to see the flags flying but is also the safest place for us to be. Just before KSU ( kick stands up), I was ordered to have all the riders fall in at the back of the procession. I informed the FD & she told the disappointed family. So like a patch on our vest states, Semper Gumby (always flexible), we fell in at the rear as ordered. I advised all riders they could stand down if they chose to as this is a very unsafe position for us. None did. There were 26 motor officers, 3 FH cars, 10 vehicles, 11 PGR & 2 APD cages in the procession.

Unfortunately, our fears were realized & PGR rider Nicki Campbell went down during one of the many accordion actions of the procession. Nicki was transported to the Killeen Clear Creek hospital. Husband Robert (Soup) & Warren Longacre (Froggy) went to be with her while Charles, Hank & Stan stayed behind w her bike to wait for a wrecker. They than came to the hospital. Marebear, Centex Deputy State Captain, also came by. What a super bunch of members we have.

As an invited patriotic honoring unit, the Austin PGR sincerely apologizes for not being able to show the honor & respect to Joel & his family that he & they deserve. Know that our prayers & thoughts are with you all.

Updates on Nickie's condition will be posted here when I know more. Thank all of U for the true patriots U are.

[keithlongacre]

10 patriots were at the briefing today to show their respect for Mr. Growden & his family. Mr. Growden's son came out & chatted with all of us. He expressed how much the whole family appreciated our being there. After the service started, we relocated the flag line to grave side. As the procession neared, we formed a 2nd flag line behind the Navy & American flags posted at the casket.
A very touching moment came when Mr. Growden's son came through the flag line & saluted each of us.
Thanks again to loyal & faithful Flag Wrangler Don
PS Looks like Frogy (AKA Warren) has new flag mounts & flags on his trik. Looken goooood.

[keithlongacre]

Here is His Obituary. Roger Growden, age 74, of Austin, passed away on April 14, 2017. He was born on August 3, 1942 in Centreville, Pennsylvania to Francis Z. and Vera (Boor) Growden. He graduated in 1960 from Bedford High School in Bedford, Pennsylvania.

Roger was retired from Austin Energy and the City of Austin Electric and Air Conditioning Departments. He has been a member of Great Hills Baptist Church since 1969. He was also a member of the Austin Christian Bass Club and was the last active founding member of this club.

Roger served his country in the United States Navy. He chose to train in the Mobile Construction Battalion Division #4. He was stationed in Cuba during the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis and subsequent Kennedy Blockade.

Those left behind to cherish his memory are his wife of 55 years, Velma J. Growden; son, Marcus Growden and wife Terri; daughter, Ginger L. Growden; son, Derek Benjamin Growden; two grandchildren, Brian and Braedan Flowers; and his sister, Shirley Griffith of Bedford, Pennsylvania.

[keithlongacre]

At the conclusion of the earlier mission, most of us found a place to grab lunch & enjoy some fellowship, then proceeded on to the grave side service of Mr. Steyer. 11 members stood a flag line as the Coach , family & friends arrived. Air Force Honor Guard rendered military honors & were sharp as tacks as usual. Attendees were impressed & pleased that we were there "Standing For Those That Stood For Us" Thanks Mark for filling in as Flag Wrangler.

[keithlongacre]

18 super patriots showed up to receive Capt. Barnett home & escort him to the FH. The family presented themselves to each of us thanking us for showing such respect. Stories were swapped from some of us who were in VN ourselves. Due to tight space on the tarmac we did not go to plane side but rather met the procession just outside the cargo gate. We had 2 flag casualties in route but were handled wo negative consequences. At the FH, we dismounted & formed a line to rendered honors while the casket was carried in. Most said they will be at the internment tomorrow.

[keithlongacre]

Mr. Covill's daughter & son both came out to the flag line to thank us for showing such honor for their dad. thanks to Don, we were able to establish 12 flags in front of the funeral home. Thanks everyone for your showing of respect.

[keithlongacre]

PART ONE AMR (after mission report)
16 patriots arrived at the airport to show the family that total strangers wanted to show honor & respect to their loved one. The flight was 30 minutes late so that disrupted the plans for us to be on the tarmac so we waited outside with the LEOs. We formed up in front of the hearse w one NAVY flag bike in front of the family following the hearse. At the FH, we provided pall bearers & stood a respect line. PO3 Hines's farther thanked us for doing what all we did for his son. Thank U all for standing w honor for this sailor & his family.

[keithlongacre]

What a great day to be an American. 12 PGR members, 3 Lakeway PD units, & total strangers arrived to escort CpL Babin & family to his future smart home. It was a moving ceremony with representatives from several participating organizations present.
A special thanks to Chief Todd Radcliff & Sgt Brown for arranging the police escort that got us there w/o a hitch. U all are super.

[keithlongacre]

What a fantastic man we honored today. If only we could live up to his standards. Family & friends were very appreciative of our being there.
Thanks to the 6 members that made the long trip out to the grave site. And a special thanks to Don for bringing the flags

[keithlongacre]

Good turn out Sat. 17 patriots. Even had some from SA. It was really humid & Tony gave us a scare by trying to put a body dent in the grass. But, thank goodness, he recovered some & after resting awhile, went to the barn to get out of the heat & humidity. Hope U are doing well now.

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