[markwells]

From Karol Ann (McCrady) Hopkins 8/17/2010

To the Austin Area Patriot Guard Riders
‘Riding with Respect’

Robert Stancil, Deputy State Captain

“On July 10th, 2010, the Patriot Guard riders accompanied our family and friends to the memorial service for my son, Cpl Garrett Clay Aragon.

We were all so impressed by the turnout of riders and their obvious respect for our boy along with the respect for his service to God and country. Additionally, all riders wore helmets as was my request. I recognize the freedom of choice, however, I could not have borne anyone being head injured during my son’s last ride. Thank you for adhering to that request.

The flag bearers at the funeral home were an awesome sight as well. To stand for that period of time in the heat shows the special, heartfelt commitment of each person in the ride that day.

Our wish is to take each one of the riders hands to shake and thank you personally from the bottom of our hearts for your tribute to Garrett. However, that’s just not possible and I’m hoping this letter serves that purpose.

A special thanks go to all the staff behind the staging of this event. Additionally, I would like to thank Sam Warren for his kind words during our conversation prior to the event, his hand in coordination of the ride, and for his personal contact with my father, Major Jesse Lee McCrady, Garrett’s grandfather.

All of the riders have our sincere appreciation for honoring our men and women in this special way. It’s a calling and all of you have heeded that call.

We wish you all safe rides as you continue on this journey for those who have served our country honorably.

Garrett along with the Hopkins, Brown, McCrady and Aragon families are the recipients of your kindness, sacrifice, commitment and we thank you very much.”

Sincerely,
Karol Ann (McCrady) Hopkins
Mother of Garrett Aragon

[markwells]

Confirmed Mission: Pfc. John Andrade Sr., 19, U.S. Army, KIA Afghanistan. San Antonio, Texas, Thursday, 19 Aug 2010.

STAGING: 1000 Hrs, McCauley Avenue Baptist Church, 714 McCauley Ave, San Antonio, Texas. Map Link: tiny.cc/0uoz0

BRIEFING: 1015 Hrs with Flag Line forming afterwards.

Funeral service – 11:00am

Procession to follow service with interment at Ft. Sam Houston, Shelter #4.

HELMETS are REQUIRED at Ft Sam Houston National Cemetery. Other than that, you just need to be street legal.

Ride Captain: David "Mule" Sury (Cell) (210) 365-9545
Assistant RC & Flags: Paula "Bubbles" Johnson (Cell) (210) 347-2056

Weather Forecast: High 97º, winds 10 – 20mph, chance of a stray thunderstorm in the late afternoon.

PLEASE remember to use sunblock, HYDRATE and bring extra WATER.

Express-News article: tinyurl.com/2uw7pce

His obituary: tinyurl.com/3779cxk

As always, all bikes and cars are welcome. Please join us in honoring this young soldier who gave his all for our nation.

[markwells]

The family of Cpl Richard Alan Allgower has invited the PGR to participate in his funeral and interment services. Cpl Allgower served in Iraq and was an active duty Marine at the time of his passing after a battle against cancer.

Date/Time: Thursday, 19 August 2010. Services scheduled for 10:00 am, with interment to follow.

Location: Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 113 Dickey Street, Taylor, TX 76574. We will stage at the church.
Directions: The church is located south of downtown Taylor, one block west of Main Street/Hwy 95. Map link: tinyurl.com/OurLadyGuadalupeTaylor

Timeline:
8:45 – 9:15 am staging
9:15 am briefing
9:20 am (approx.) flag line in place

Wx: Mostly sunny, low 77, high 99. Bring plenty of drinking water and sunscreen.

Notes: Please arrive fed, fueled, and hydrated. The church actually faces Rio Grande St, one block south of Dickey. Park across the street from the church on Rio Grande. We will form a second flag line at Taylor City Cemetery for the interment services following the Mass.

Ride Captain: Mark Wells, 512-470-0380, mwells2@austin.rr.com
Flag Wrangler: Mark Wells

Please make plans to stand tall and silent in honor of this young man's service to our country.

[markwells]

CONFIRMED MISSION
Specialist William Reed, US Army, Veteran

The family of Specialist William Allen Reed, 48, has requested the presence and participation of the Patriot Guard Riders in the Funeral and Interment of their loved one on Monday, 16 Aug 10 at 1330 at the Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Killeen, TX. The funeral will be followed by a procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery for interment.

Date: Monday, 16 Aug 10

Staging Location: Harper-Talesek Funeral Home, 506 N 38th St, Killeen, TX 76543 tinyurl.com/yctptck

Time: 1230

Briefing: 1245

Establish Flagline: 1300

Cemetery Staging: For those members who are able to participate only in the cemetery portion, parking will be on the side of the road directly across from the columbarium. Flag truck will be in place and we will gather there prior to establishing a flagline.

Time: 1400

Briefing: 1410

Weather: 104F, precipitation 10%, wind S at 9mph, mostly sunny

Please arrive hydrated, bring plenty of water, use sunscreen and be prepared for the heat.

Let us join together to honor this US Army Veteran for his selfless service to our great country.

Ride Captain: Ron “PACMan” Decker, 254-526-8265, 254-383-6281, krdecker@embarqmail.com
Asst Ride Captain: Gerry "RocketMan" Lowrey, 512-863-3193, 512-818-3690, g.lowrey@verizon.net
Cemetery RC: David "MarineMajor" Dunn, 512-818-2531, marine9678@aol.com

[markwells]

The Patriot Guard has been invited to stand and honor Sgt. Jose Saenz III (USMC), who was killed in action in the Helmand province, Afghanistan, while assigned to 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

This mission is over two dates, please try to attend if available to stand and honor one of our fallen heroes and help support the family and community. Thank you.

Hurley Funeral Home Obituary – tiny.cc/1z24q

Airport Recovery – 14 Aug 2010 (Saturday), 10:00am

Staging – 09:15am w/ Briefing at 09:45am
Port San Antonio – Base Operations
303 S Frank Luke Dr
San Antonio, Texas
tiny.cc/pcorb

Procession will leave Port San Antonio with LEO escort and travel to Hurley Funeral Home in Pleasanton, Texas. If time permits, we will establish a flag line at the funeral home for the arrival of Sgt. Saenz III; if not, a honor line will be formed… Semper Gumby

Weather
Partly Cloudy
High 102*
Please come prepared and try to hydrate the night before

Ride Captain
Jimmy Dixon

Asst. Ride Captain
David Sury

Flag Truck
Leslie Devore

Funeral & Interment – 16 Aug 2010 (Monday), 10:30am

Staging – 09:30am w/ Briefing at 09:50am
Saint Andrew Catholic Church
626 Market St.
Pleasanton, Texas
tiny.cc/qffwr

Flag line will be established at the church. Procession to San Ysidro Cemetery for interment will follow, with flag line at cemetery.

Weather
Partly Cloudy
High 101*
Please come prepared and try to hydrate the night before

Ride Captain
David Sury

Asst. Ride Captain
Paula Johnson

Flag Truck
Leslie Devore

[markwells]

CONFIRMED MISSION – Short Notice

MSG William Roberts, US Army, Retired, Korea

The family of MSG William Roberts, 79, has requested the presence and participation of the Patriot Guard Riders in the Funeral and Interment of their loved one on Thursday, 12 Aug 10 at 1000 at the Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple, TX. The funeral will be followed by a procession to the Bellwood Cemetery for interment.

Date: Thursday, 12 Aug 10

Staging Location: McDonalds restaurant, 1601 East 6th Avenue, Belton, Tx 76513. tinyurl.com/ye6fybc

Staging Time: 0815

Briefing: 0830

KSU: 0845

WX: 101F, precipitation 10%, wind SSW at 9mph, mostly sunny

Note: There will be a short ride to the funeral home where, upon arrival, a flagline will be established in anticipation of the family's arrival. We have been asked to escort MSG Roberts to the Bellwood Cemetery.

Arrive hydrated, bring plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and be prepared for a hot day.

Please let us join together to honor this US Army retiree for his long years of service to our great America.

RC: Ron “PACMan” Decker, 254-526-8265, 254-383-6281, krdecker@embarqmail.com
ARC: Gerry "RocketMan" Lowrey, 512-863-3193, 512-818-3690, g.lowrey@verizon.net

[markwells]

Great mission yesterday. We had 23 bikes and a cage. Andy got us out onto the tarmac again, and we got to be the first to shake hands with all these guys after they set foot in central Texas after 10 months in the sandbox. A lot of fun.

We had a number of VROC members who rode the mission. One of them, Mike "Chico" Garcia, shot this great video. Watch it to the end to catch the folding of the 50 ft flag. Thanks Chico!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_TakKVi0Aw

Welcome Home!

[markwells]

Final Itinerary – Short Notice

The family of Robert Gordon Fielder has requested the participation of the PGR in his funeral services. Mr. Fielder was struck and killed by a drunk driver while riding his motorcycle this past Thursday. He served in both the US Army and Marine Corp and was the co-owner of Scooters and Shooters in Bertram, TX. Expect a large contingent of his biker friends to attend.

Date/Time: Monday, 09 August 2010. Services scheduled for 5:00 pm.

Location: Beck Funeral Home, 1700 E. Whitestone, Cedar Park, TX. Whitestone is the same as RR 1431. We will stage at the funeral home, which is on the south side of the road between Parmer and Hwy 183A. Map link: http://www.tinyurl.com/BeckCedarPark

Timeline:
4:00 – 4:20 pm staging
4:20 pm briefing
4:25 pm flag line established

Wx: Mostly sunny, high near 100. Bring drinking water and drink it, as it will be dangerously hot.

Notes: Please arrive fed and hydrated. This will be a flag line only prior to the funeral service. Mr. Fielder has been cremated, so there is no burial service following.

Ride Captain: Russ "Ghost" Miller, Milinscon@suddenlink.net, 512-636-9692
Flag Wrangler: TBD

If you can, please take a little time tomorrow afternoon to stand tall and silent in honor of Mr. Fielder's service to our nation.

[markwells]

Final Itinerary

The PGR has been invited to help welcome home approx. 50 soldiers of Alpha A Troop, 1-112 Cav of the Texas National Guard after a 10 month deployment to Iraq. This mission will be an accompaniment from the Austin airport (ABIA) to the Guard Armory in Taylor, TX.

Date/Time: Sunday, 08 August 2010. Flight arrival via SWA charter is expected at 8:30 am.

Staging Location: We will stage at the US Postal facility at ABIA.
Directions: From TX 71, take the ABIA CARGO exit and turn south onto Spirit of Texas Dr. At the first stop sign, turn right onto Freight Lane. Stay left at the fork and continue to USPS facility parking lot, which is on the right at the dead end. Map link: tinyurl.com/ABIAPostal

Timeline:
7:00 – 7:30 am staging
7:30 am briefing
7:45 am (approx), relocation from the staging area to the terminal/tarmac, pending ABIA approval.

Wx: Mostly sunny, low 76, high near 100. Please remember to bring multiple bottles of drinking water. The flag/water truck will not be present.

Notes: The soldiers will de-plane onto the tarmac to waiting buses. The LEO escorted procession will then depart for the 60 mile trip to the Guard Armory at 1411 N. Main in Taylor. The route will be determined by the organizers. If we end up on the toll road, individual riders are responsible for their toll charges. This is a procession only, with no intermediate stops, and no flag line.

Ride Captain: Andy "Andyman" Lough, cell 512-441-9297, ALough@Austin.rr.com

Please welcome home these troops and show our appreciation for all of the sacrifices they have made for US!

[markwells]

Thank you to the 12 who were there to honor Mrs. Cowden's service to our country yesterday in the flag line. The PGR also served as pall bearers.

The area around the chapel at Camp Mabry is nice, park-like, with big old trees, and well kept. We had the good fortune to stand in the shade of the building the entire time.

It was reported by her son Patrick that Mrs. Cowden was the last USMC woman WWII veteran here in central Texas. May she rest in peace.

[markwells]

Mrs. Cowden's obituary:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/statesman/obituary.aspx?n=mary-frances-reilly-cowden&pid=144380647

[markwells]

Very Short Notice Confirmed Mission

The family of Mary Frances Reilly Cowden has requested the participation of the PGR in her funeral services. She served in the USMC during WWII and left the service after the war as a PFC.

Date/Time: Wednesday, 4 August 2010. Service scheduled for 10:00 am, with interment to follow at Ft Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.

Location: Camp Mabry Bishop Chapel. We will stage at the chapel.
Directions: From Mopac (Loop 1), take the exit for 35th street, go west 0.6 mi to the Camp Mabry entrance at Maintenance Drive, turn north into the facility. Turn right at the T intersection, follow the road around to the right. Map link: tinyurl.com/CampMabryChapel

Timeline:
8:50 – 9:20 am staging
9:20 am briefing
9:25 flag line established

Wx: Low 76, high 101. Please remember to bring plenty of drinking water. Sunscreen recommended.

Notes: Please arrive fed, fueled, and hydrated. A photo ID and proper PPE (helmet, boots, & gloves) are required to enter the post. We have been asked to provide a motorcycle accompaniment from the chapel to IH35 at the conclusion of the service. This will be limited to a few big flag bikes. There will not be a procession to Ft Sam.

Ride Captain: Dick Ward, reward2000@earthlink.net, 512-585-3610
Flag Wrangler: Mark Wells

Please make plans to stand tall and silent in honor of this Marine's service to her country many years ago.

[markwells]

Many thanks to all who came out this morning to welcome home these Heros, and an extra thanks to those of you who helped with the flags. We had about 45 or so bikes and couple cages. Good job everyone. Robert

[markwells]

worth taking another vacation day to be there for these brave man! :DFly them high -Fly them proud!

[markwells]

Will be there to help show these brave men the support they deserve.

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