[markwells]

Usually off on Tuesday's, do my best to be there by 11.

[markwells]

Riders,

The PGR has been invited by the people of Lakeway and Lake Travis to accompany the AVTT Vietnam Memorial Wall into town on May 11. The American Veterans Traveling Tribute Wall is an 80% scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC and is visiting the area as part of that community’s “Price of Freedom” week. Visit http://www.avtt.org to learn more about this Wall.

Austin Staging:

Date/Time: Tuesday, 11 May 2010, 11:00 am

Location: Meet at the fuel stop/BBQ place on the southwest corner of RR 2222 and RR 620. Address is 7008 Ranch Road 620, Austin, TX. Map link: tinyurl.com/SmokeyJsBBQ

Timeline:
11:00 – 11:20 am staging
11:20 am briefing
11:30 am KSU for the short ride to Hudson Bend Middle School

Notes: We will be able to re-fuel and get ready for the ride at the staging area. There is a little BBQ place there called Smokey J’s, excellent chopped sandwich, in case you are hungry.

We will meet the truck hauling the Wall at the Hudson Bend Middle School at noon. There will be a brief stop for the kids, after which the procession will depart with LEO support bound for the Lake Travis High School football stadium.

Assembly of the Wall at the stadium will be on the following day, May 12th. Volunteers to help with this effort are welcome.

Ride Captain: Steve von Roeder, svroeder@sbcglobal.net, work phone 512-972-7746, home phone 512-837-3843, cell phone 512-466-5769.

Please remember that our mission is to honor those whose names appear on this Wall and pay our respect for their sacrifice. Come out and help us salute these American heroes.

[markwells]

Austin Confirmed Mission:

The family of Mr. Robert Williams has requested the Patriot Guard Riders participate in his funeral service in honor of his military service to our country. Mr. Williams enlisted in the Marine Corps at 18 yrs old and fought in WWII and Korea. He was awarded many accolades and medals, including the Purple Heart, during his more than 30 years of service.

Date/Time: Saturday, 1 May 2010. Services scheduled for 3:00 pm

Location: Gabriels Funeral Chapel, 393 North IH-35, Georgetown, TX. We will stage at the funeral home.

Directions: The funeral home is located on the southbound frontage road of IH-35. If traveling north on IH-35, take exit 264, cross over to southbound side. Funeral home is located immediately north of the La Quinta hotel. From southbound IH-35, take exit 262. Map link: tinyurl.com/yh5allp

Timeline:
1345 – 1420 hrs staging (1:45 – 2:20 pm)
1420 hrs briefing then flag line

Wx: Mostly cloudy, 30% chance of showers, high near 83. Please bring your own drinking water.

Notes: Park on the outer area of the parking lot as directed by the RC. This will be a flag line only mission at the funeral home. 1st Sgt. Williams will be buried at Ft Sam Houston Cemetery in San Antonio on Monday.

Ride Captain: Chuck Murphy, w9ctm@hotmail.com, 512-417-2744
Flag Wrangler: David Dunn

Please make plans to stand tall and silent in gratitude for Mr. Williams's service to our country.

[markwells]

Thank you to the 10 hardy souls who braved the likely inclement weather to stand for Mr. Thomas. The skies didn't really open up until we were finished. Hope everyone made it home OK, although a little wet.

Please note that due to lack of LEO escort to Killeen, we will NOT be participating in a procession from Austin to CTSVC on Monday. You are welcome to join the Centex contingent at the cemetery to honor Mr. Thomas at the scheduled 1:00 pm interment service.

Again, we thank God for the service of men and women such as Mr. Norris Thomas, and may his soul rest in peace.

[markwells]

I want to thank everyone that showed today.
I also want to share something. I was on the corner, a gentelman walked up and had only seen three people in the flag line, as he turned the corner he smiled, and wishpered to himself "Wow" and his eye's really lit up as he saw the rest of the flagline, then a huge tear came to his eye. I don't know about you, but that made this mission and probably the next 10 very worth while.
Thanks for all you do, you do make difference…
me

[markwells]

The family of Mr. Norris Thomas has requested the participation of the PGR in his funeral and interment services. Mr. Thomas served in the US Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1981 as a Tech Sgt.

Date/Time: Saturday, 17 April 2010. Services scheduled for 11:00 am

Location: St. James Missionary Baptist Church, 3417 East MLK Jr. Boulevard, Austin, TX 78721. We will stage at the church. See Notes below regarding the interment portion.

Directions: The church is located 2 miles east of IH35 on MLK, south side of the street. MKL can be accessed from both IH 35 and Hwy 183. Map link: tinyurl.com/StJamesBaptist. GPS coordinates: N30deg16' 58.81" W97deg41' 57.82"

Timeline:
0945 – 1010 hrs staging (9:45 – 10:10 am)
1010 hrs briefing
1015 hrs flag line in place.

Wx: Mostly cloudy, low 58, high 74 deg F, 40% chance of rain. Please bring your own drinking water.

Notes: Park on the west side of the building as directed by the RC. Be aware the family will already be at the church for a visitation prior to the start of the service. This will be a flag line only mission.

Interment is scheduled for Monday, 19 April, at CTSVC in Killeen. There will be a procession with LEO escort on Monday up to Killeen for the scheduled 1:00 pm interment service. Stand by for details on that portion.

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

Please make plans to stand tall and silent in gratitude for Mr. Thomas's service to our country.

[markwells]

Specialist Noelle Pagliaro (May 1987 – March 2010) was brought to her final resting place this afternoon in Austin. The Patriot Guard Riders were honored with a request to stand in honor of Noelle's service to her country.

We stood in formation on Good Friday, this symbol of man's greatest sacrifice, outside the funeral home as her family and guests arrived along with about 15 active duty soldiers, all come to say their good-byes to a woman much too young to be leaving this earth.

The afternoon traffic at one of the busiest intersections in Austin rumbled and hissed as the world went about its business, mostly unaware of the services being held just a few feet from the intersection of William Cannon and Highway 290, but we stood in a flag line as the funeral home filled and we waited for the last to arrive while the clouds gathered and huge raindrops began to fall.

We stood quietly while the service concluded and then we marched with flags to the graveside. Noelle's family sat under the swaying trees, mute with sorrow and loss while the impossibly young honor guard fired their weapons and blew Taps one last time for Noelle.

The family and friends paid their final respects to Noelle and we marched solemnly back to our motorcycles and furled our flags.

I suppose we mostly go about our lives oblivious to the pain and sorrow around us and I understand it. We lead busy lives and have our own concerns and no one can be expected to know the quiet desperation of those around us, but the next time you see a soldier, take a second to shake his or her hand and offer a thanks for their service. If you are a soldier or a veteran, thank you again for your service.
I caught one last glimpse of Noelle's family as I left the funeral home. They were still clearly at a loss for how to fit Noelle's death into their consciousness. I offered them one final wave and sent a final wish for Noelle to be at rest for all of eternity as I drove away under the clearing sky.

Welcome home soldier. Thank you for your service.

[markwells]

Thanks to all that came today to honor SPC Pagliaro, great turnout.
I personally am very proud to be part of so many awesome people. Thank you never seems to be enough.
You do make a difference.

[markwells]

This letter was posted on the National PGR site and thought I'd share with…
__________________________________

3/31/10
Dear Patriot Guard Riders:

Today in the small town of Liberty Hill, Texas we buried a wonderful young man. SPC Elton J. (EJ) Johnston, a Texas National Guard soldier and High School student in our small town. My 17 year old son had been friends with EJ since they were both little boys.

I run a business and could not attend the funeral with my son. My business is on Hwy 29, the route of the funeral procession to the cemetery. I gathered employees and family and we stood at the road, with a flag, to honor EJ and his family.

I have to tell you that the sight of all those PGR with American Flags touched the very depths of my heart. What a wonderful way to honor a great young man.

After the procession I did some research on your wonderful group. What you do is the most selfless acts I think I have ever seen.

There are not words to define the kindness of the men and women (and 1 dog we saw in the group!). I showed my son the info on your group when he got home. In this day when people are not always as nice or giving or compassionate as they should be, it's an inspiration to know that there are people like PGR out there. You have inspired me and I may just become your newest member.

God Bless you all,
Laura Collins
Liberty Hill, TX

________________________________________________

[markwells]

Final Itinerary – Funeral and Interment

The family of SPC Noelle Pagliaro has invited the PGR to participate in her funeral and interment services. SGT Pagliaro passed away recently after having returned from a deployment.

Date/Time: Friday, 2 April 2010. Funeral service scheduled for 3:30 pm, with interment following at the adjacent cemetery.

Location: Cook Walden Forest Oaks Funeral Home, 6300 West William Cannon Drive, Austin, TX. We will stage at the funeral home.

Directions: From southbound Mopac (Loop 1), exit to westbound 290/71. Travel 2.5 miles to William Cannon Dr., turn left (south), funeral home is the next left. Map link: tinyurl.com/CookWaldenForestOaks

Timeline:
2:15 – 2:45 pm staging
2:45 pm briefing/flagline

Wx: Overcast, low 67, high of 76, 50% rain chance. Bring two bottles of drinking water.

Notes: We will form a flag line prior to the start of the funeral and again for the interment service. The burial site is adjacent to the funeral home; as a result there will be no riding procession.

Ride Captain: Juan Gonzales, JCGonz13@yahoo,com, 512-466-8968
Flag Wrangler: Bob Binkley

Please make plans to stand tall and silent in honor of SPC Pagliaro's service to our nation.

[markwells]

I just recieved this e-mail from the family of Charles Maxey.
Just wanted to share with all of you, again Thanks for all you do…

Subject: Appreciation

Family of Charles Maxey would like to thank the Patriot Guard Riders for their precence at the funeral service. Charles was very patriotic and proud of the time he served his Country. Your organization emphazises the brotherhood that is held in the armed services.

[markwells]

I plan to leave work shortly and see y'all there.
Ride safe…

[markwells]

I am planning to be at the airport for this recovery.

[markwells]

Extremely short notice – Austin Airport Recovery mission, Today, Wednesday, 31 March 2010

SGT Noelle Pagliaro, US Army active duty, passed away after having returned home from deployment. She will be returned to Austin this evening, and her family has requested the participation of the PGR in the airport recovery and procession to Cook Walden Forest Oaks funeral home in south Austin.

Funeral services are planned for Friday, 2 April, time to be determined.

Austin Staging:

Date/Time: Wednesday, 31 March 2010, flight arrival time 6:00 pm (1800 hrs) via Delta Airlines

PGR will stage at the US Postal Facility at Austin airport (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 end of the road. Map link: tinyurl.com/ABIAUSPS

Timeline:
4:30 – 5:15 pm staging
5:15 pm briefing
6:00 pm scheduled flight arrival

Wx: Partly cloudy, high of 85. Bring two bottles of drinking water.

Notes: Arrive fed, fueled and hydrated. PGR will accompany the procession to Cook Walden Forest Oaks Funeral Home, 6300 West William Cannon Drive, Austin, approx. 14 miles. As always, Semper Gumby.

Standby for information regarding the funeral portion of the mission.

Ride Captain: Andy Lough, 512-441-9297, Alough@austin.rr.com

Monitor your email and website for possible changes, and keep SGT Pagliaro and her family in your prayers.

[markwells]

We are burying two soldiers on Wednesday.

One is 18 yrs old, barely a man, just learning to take up arms in the defense of his country and freedom. The other fought in far away lands during a terrible world war many years ago and survived to come home and live out his life into old age.

A poignant coincidence to be sure, but also a reminder that it is a good thing we do, to stand for such as these.

God rest their souls.

[Author]

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