[markwells]

*Updated 04 November*

Riders, we have lost another Central Texas Marine to the fight in Afghanistan, and the PGR has been honored by an invitation from his family to attend his services.

Airport Recovery Portion

Date: Wednesday, 04 November 2009

Austin Staging Location: Empty lot at General Aviation Blvd and Firehouse Rd., Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA)
Directions: Traveling south on Hwy 183, continue 2.7 mi past the signs for Hwy 71 East/ABIA to Burleson Road. Turn left onto Burleson Road, travel east 1.3 miles to General Aviation Drive and turn left (north). Continue 1.5 mi. to open paved lot on right side of General Aviation Blvd. This lot is north of Signature Aviation and Atlantic Flight Support.

Timeline:
1045-1120 hrs staging (10:45-11:20 am)
1120 briefing.
1201 hrs scheduled arrival of Kalitta charter bearing LCpl Stanley

WX: High of 78 and sunny. Sunscreen recommended.

Notes: Arrive fed, fueled and hydrated. There will be no stops on the 24 mile ride to the funeral home in Lockhart, Texas. Bring water for you and one other. It is not known at this time the exact location of the flight arrival, but our staging area is within 2 mins of the 3 possibilities, so semper gumby.

Ride Captain: Andy "Andyman" Lough, 512-441-9297, ALough@Austin.rr.com
____________________________________________________
Final Itinerary – Funeral Service

Date/Time: Friday, 06 November 2009. Services scheduled to start at 10:00 am

Location: First Baptist Church, 300 Hudgins St., Smithville, TX. We will stage in the parking lot across the street from the Church.
Map link: tinyurl.com/yj7bekc

Austin Staging location: SW cornor of Hwy 71 & FM 973, gas & convienent store near ABIA.

Timeline:
0715–0740 Austin staging
0740 safety briefing
0750 KSU for Smithville, approx. 35 miles
0850 arrive at Smithville staging location.
0910 briefing
0915 flag line in place.

Wx: Clear, Lo 54, high 78. Please bring your own drinking water.

Notes:
Please arrive fed, fueled, and hydrated. At the conclusion of the funeral service we will join the procession to the Clarks Chapel Cemetery at the intersection of FM 713 and Old McMahan Rd near Lockhart (approx. 35 miles) where we will establish a flag line for the interment service.

Ride Captain: Keith Longacre, keithlongacre@att.net, home phone 512-251-8955, cell 512-751-8955
Assist RC Sam Warren
Flag Wrangler: Mark Brittain

Please remember that our Mission is to honor this fallen Marine and pay respects to his family for his sacrifice on our behalf.

[markwells]

SSG Christopher Neil Staats, 32, of Fredericksburg, TX was Killed In Action on Friday, 16 Oct 09 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 143rd Infantry Detachment, Austin, TX (Camp Mabry).

This is a San Antonio PGR mission and we will be under their control in Fredericksburg.

Date: Friday, 30 Oct 09

Austin area Staging Location: Jim's Restaurant in SW Austin, located immediately west of the Y in Oak Hill, where 290 & 71 split. map link: tinyurl.com/ykucers Jim's is open 24 hrs in case you wish to arrive early and have breakfast.

Timeline:
0630 staging
0640 briefing
0650 KSU

WX: Mostly cloudy, 57F, wind N at 11mph, precipitation chance 40%.

Notes:
1. Please arrive at stagings hydrated, fueled, and fed. Bring water, dress appropriately for the weather and be prepared for any possible changes in the weather. This is a very early ride, please plan accordingly.

2. No stops in route, approximately 1.5 hr ride to the Fredericksburg staging location.

3. For those who want to go directly to the Fredericksburg staging site (Sutherland Lumber) the following is provided.
-Staging at Sutherland Lumber (0830): 1511 E Main St tinyurl.com/yk9l6qh

Ride Captain: Keith Longacre, keithlongacre@att.net 512-751-8955

Please help us honor this Active Duty Hero who gave his life for our freedoms.

[markwells]

A couple of pics from the mission:

Austin staging:

PGR mounted and ready to ride:

And the PGR flag line beneath the hundreds year old Live Oaks at the Lutheran Church in Yorktown:

[markwells]

What an incredible mission — I think the outpouring of support from the community of Yorktown was as impressive a sight as I've seen at any one of these missions.

It reminded me of riding through Johnson City just ahead of Lady Bird Johnson's funeral procession a couple of years ago.

Thanks to all of you who rode with us to help honor this fallen Hero, his family, and his community.

It's with the utmost humility and honor to ride amongst so many damned-fine patriots on such an important mission.

[markwells]

I plan on being there if I can find the staging location.:D

[markwells]

Thanks to everyone who attended LTC. Coleman's service this morning. They asked for a couple of folks to stand with a flag when they came out of the church, and we gave them 12 members with 9 bikes! The veteran's son came over to thank us personally, as did others.
Good mission for an American Warrior who served his country well!
Sam

[markwells]

SGT Anthony Gabriel Green served with the Texas National Guard, ADT 2, 143rd Airborne Infantry Brigade, Texas Thirty-Sixth “Arrowhead” Division out of Camp Mabry and was killed in action in Afghanistan when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an IED. Also killed in the attack was SSG Chris N. Staats of Fredercksburg, TX.

Date/Time: Saturday, 24 October 2009. Funeral service scheduled for 1500 hrs (3:00 pm) Interment will follow at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery with full military honors.

Location: St. Paul Lutheran Church, 234 N. Gohmert St., Yorktown, TX 78164. Map Link: tiny.cc/w7iMv

Austin Staging Location: US183S & FM812, southwest corner convenience store. Map Link: tiny.cc/pSkRc

Austin Staging Timeline:
1120-1145 hrs (11:20-11:45 am)
1145 hrs briefing
1200 hrs High Noon KSU

Wx: Clear/Sunny Low 58, High 78, 0% rain. Bring drinking water, sun screen recommended.

Notes:
Please arrive fueld, fed, and hydrated. Total one way mileage from staging is approximately 105 miles.
Route: US 183 to Cuero intersect State Hwy 72. State Hyw 72 to Yorktown (17 miles)
We will make one scheduled stop in Cuero for fuel and a comfort break. Time will determine the duration of the stop.
Upon arrival in Yorktown we will come under the direction of the San Antonio area Ride Captain.

Ride Captain: Terry Moto-T Ayers, mototerry@texreb.com (512) 925-6101 (512) 251-5366

[markwells]

Short Notice Confirmed Mission – Lt Col Frank H. Coleman

The Patriot Guard Riders are honored to have been invited by the family of Lt Col Frank H. Coleman to participate in his funeral. Lt Col Coleman served in the US Air Force during WWII and completed 32 combat mission before his B-17 was shot down. He was captured and became a POW in Germany for 16 months until he was liberated in 1945.

Date/Time: Friday, 23 October 2009. Funeral service scheduled for 1000 hrs (10:00 am)

Location: St. Theresa Catholic Church, 4311 Small Dr, Austin, TX 78731. We will stage at the church.
Directions: The church is located in west Austin off 2222 about halfway between Mopac and Hwy 360. From Mopac travel west on RM 2222 approx. 1.5 mi, turn right onto Mt Bonnel Rd and another right on to Small Dr. The church is on the right hand side. Map Link: tinyurl.com/yhkp49c

Timeline:
0850-0920hrs (8:50-9:20 am) staging at the church. Please park at the north end of the parking lot.
0920 briefing
0925 flag line in place

Wx: Partly cloudy, Low 52, high 72, partly cloudy. Bring your own drinking water.

Notes:
We will establish a flag line both before and at the conclusion of the funeral mass. We will not participate in a procession afterward.

Ride Captain: Sam Warren, samhwk@gmail.com, 512-217-4191
Flag Wrangler: Sam Warren

Please make plans to stand tall and silent in honor of Lt Col Coleman's service to our country.

[markwells]

TC, Thank you so much for letting us know how it went. I really wanted to go to this, but atleast now I know how well it turned out, I have been wondering all day!!
Thanks to all of you, for what you do !!!
Sounds to me like you guys really made Mr Fowler's Day.

[markwells]

I'll be on an airplane (Southwest, of course!) about the time you guys are KSU, but will toast Mr. Fowler with my ice water and peanuts. Have fun.

[markwells]

What a neat thing to do,
God Bless you all, ride safe.
I will not be able to make it, but I will be there in spirit.

[markwells]

We have something fun to do this Thursday in Burnet. Hershel Fowler is a WWII veteran who will turn 92 years young on that day. His son, JT Fowler, reports that Mr. Fowler is in declining health and about a year ago "had his next to last heart attack", as he put it.

JT asked if the PGR could recognize his dad's service on his birthday, so we planned a way for us to say Happy Birthday and Thank You to Mr. Fowler.

Date: Thursday, 08 October 2009

Staging location: HEB parking lot on Hwy 29. It is located 5 blocks East of the Hwy 29\281 Intersection. GPS: 30deg 45' 32.3" N And 098deg 13' 25.4" W

Timeline:
12:15 – 12:45 pm staging
12:45 briefing
12:55 KSU for 1:00 pm arrival at the residence

Wx: This is Texas in early Fall. Be prepared for anything. As of Tuesday the forecast calls for high of 85 and low of 72 deg. with 30% chance of Rain. Actual weather will be announced at the briefing…:)

Note: Please fly your big flags is so equipped. We will present a certificate and TX coin to Mr. Fowler.

Ride Captain: John "TC" Wiley, johnboy@281.com, cell 325-423-2220

We all know the heroes of WWII are rapidly departing the world they saved from tyranny and oppression so many years ago. This is a great opportunity to thank one of them in person.

[markwells]

I had the pleasure of meeting david and his wife at my job
last week wed.I am sorry that do to work i will not make it to
honor this hero,I will visit his family and wife in a few days
colton

[markwells]

Austin Staging for Funeral and interment services, Deputy Francis David Blake, Burnet, TX

Date: Tuesday, 06 October 2009

Location: First Baptist Church, Hwy 29 and D.B.Woods Road, Georgetown, TX. Map link: tinyurl.com/ya785qn

Timeline:
1040-1055 hrs staging
1055 hrs safety briefing
1100 hrs KSU to the Centex staging in Burnet

Ride Captain: Russ Miller, 512-636-9692, milinscon@suddenlink.net

Please see additional notes below. Centex has two missions on Tuesday which overlap, so if you can, please make plans to join Russ for the mission in Burnet.

——————————————————————————–

EXTREMELY SHORT NOTICE – CONFIRMED MISSION
Deputy Francis David Blake, Badge #128 – Killed On Duty – Burnet County Texas Deputy & Military Veteran

The family of Deputy Francis David Blake has requested the presence of the Patriot Guard Riders at the Funeral and Interment of their loved one. Deputy Blake was a member of the Burnet County Sheriff's Office and also a Military Veteran. According to DPS, Deputy Francis David Blake was responding to a major accident with injuries on Park Road 4, one to two miles south of Hwy 29, when he apparently struck a deer just west of Deer Springs, TX. He lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree. Deputy Blake, 42, was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace. His Mother-In-Law informed us that he had intended to join the Patriot Guard Riders, but had not found the time yet to do so. Here is a link to his PoliceLink webpage: http://policelink.monster.com/member/Deputy128

Service will be at 2:00pm at the First United Methodist Church, 909 N. Vanderveer St., Burnet, Texas. Interment will be at Lakeland Hills Memorial Park on Park Rd. 4 South of Burnet immediately following the Service.

DATE: Tuesday, 6 Oct 09

Copperas Cove Staging: 1030
Copperas Cove Staging Location: Town Square Shopping Center located on the west end of Copperas Cove on Hwy 190 (look for the green jeep).
Briefing: 1055
KSU: 1000

Arrive topped off, hydrated, bring extra water & snacks. We will travel west on Hwy190 to 281, then south to the Burnet Staging.

Burnet Staging Time: 1200
Burnet Staging Location: Burnet HEB parking lot, located on the South side of Hwy 29 and 5 Blocks East of the 29\281 Intersection. GPS: N 30 deg 45' 32.3" and W 098 deg 13' 25.4".
Briefing: 1245
KSU: 1300 We will be escorted from HEB to the Church for procession lineup by LE Agency in Charge.

WX: Forecast at this time is 67 low/87 high: Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph with a 50% chance of Rain.

Note: This is expected to be a very large Service with many Law Enforcement Agencies and local citizens attending. Motto for this mission will be "Super Semper Gumby" as we will mainly be under the direction of agencies in charge of coordinating various parts of the Service and Procession. I'm sure we will be making several last second adjustments.

Please let us join together to honor this Hero Law Enforcement Officer and Veteran who lost his life too soon.

RC: John "TC" Wiley; JohnBoy@281.com; 325.388.4698 (H) 325.423.2220 (C)
Assistant RC: Mary "Marebear" Gregory; MGregory2@hot.rr.com; 254.458.2120
Flag Wrangler: Rob "roblawdog" Carothers; RobTheLawDog@yahoo.com; 254.223.2507

[markwells]

AFTER ACTION REPORT: we had 16 PGR members, including one new member, Randy, who was attending his first mission. Thanks to Sam for wrangling the flags. We had excellent LEO support including an escort through Taylor with 5 cars, lights and sirens. The troops marched to the school from across the street under an American Flag suspended from a TFD Fire ladder truck, through our flag line and into the high school gymnasium. The commander of Texas Army National Guard, Alpha Troop A, 1st Squadron, 112th Calvary Regiment (Ghost Riders) shook hands with each PGR member. The Mayor pro-tem was delighted that we were able to attend.

Thanks to all who made the effort to attend; I know these troops and their families appreciated us being there to stand tall for them. The weather held off until we saddled up to leave; I trust everyone got home safely, wet no doubt but safe and secure in the knowledge that we were included in this ceremony and in our small way able to show these troops and families that we support them.

Thanks for what you do,

Capn’ Cannonball

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