[markwells]

Confirmed mission: The Patriot Guard Riders have been invited to participate in the funeral and interment services for Retired SSG Roberto Bruciaga. SSG Bruciaga served in the US Army for 28 years including a two year deployment to Vietnam.

Information about his life can be read here: https://www.harrellfuneralhomes.com/obituary/506413/Roberto-G.-Bruciaga/

Date/Time: Thursday, 01 October 2020. Funeral service begins at 10 am.

Location: Harrell Funeral Home, 4435 Frontier Trail, Austin 78745. We will stage at the funeral home.
map link: https://goo.gl/maps/Fzikg3vpZgFnajrf8

Timeline:
8:50 – 9:20 am – Staging
9:20 am – Briefing
9:30 am – Flag line

Wx: Hi 88 deg F, sunny

Notes: Bring water for yourself and for a friend. Following the start of the funeral service we will strike the flag line and stand by to join the LEO escorted procession to the nearby Assumption Cemetery where we will form a second flag line for the interment service.

Ride Captain: Soup Campbell, robertsoupcampbell@yahoo.com, (512) 925-2104
Flag Wrangler: Nicki Campbell

Please attend to show honor and gratitude for this soldier's long service to our nation.

[markwells]

Confirmed mission: The Patriot Guard Riders have been invited to participate in the funeral service for MSgt Charles Martin Turner. MSgt Turner served in the US Air Force from 1958 to 1978, including deployment to Vietnam.

More about his life can be read here: https://www.harrellfuneralhomes.com/obituary/503678/Charles-Martin-Turner/

Date/Time: Friday, 09 October 2020. Funeral service begins at 11 am.

Location: Harrell Funeral Home, 1715 Kirby, Kyle, TX 78640. We will stage at the funeral home.
map link: https://goo.gl/maps/SNMdcfYtvmx5rkSf9

Timeline:
9:50 – 10:20 am – Staging
10:20 am – Briefing
10:30 am – Flag line

Wx: Hi 88, partly cloudy

Notes: Bring water for yourself and for a friend. After the start of the funeral service we will strike the flag line and standby to join the LEO escorted procession to Ft Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio where the interment will take place at 1:30 pm. SAPGR will be in attendance.

Ride Captain: Soup Campbell, robertsoupcampbell@yahoo.com, (512) 925-2104
Flag Wrangler: Max Vasquez

Please attend to show honor and gratitude for this airman's long service to our nation.

[markwells]

We had six big flag bike riders for this mission, which worked out quite well. Four of us met up at the MickyD's and Keith Brown and Charles met us at the staging site near the cemetery. It was a very foggy ride down!

At the staging site we unfurled our flags and then rode the final mile to the cemetery. We used our bike flags to stand the flag line. When the visitation portion ended and the casket was closed we struck the flag line and departed. Luckily we were able to park far enough from the pavilion as to not be a distraction to the funeral service.

Thanks to Keith Brown, Charles Franks, Keith Longacre, Russ Miller, and Mike Matthews for honoring this veteran. His family was very appreciate.

[markwells]

Very Short Notice confirmed mission: The family of Mr. James Michael Faust has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to attend his graveside service. Mr. Faust served in the US Army from 1969 to 1971, including one year in Vietnam. He left the service as a Sergeant.

As this is so short notice, and we have another mission early Saturday afternoon, I am calling on Big Flag bike riders only. We will use our flag bikes to stand a flag line prior to the start of the graveside service.

Date/Time: Saturday, 26 September 2020. Service begins at 10 am.

Location: Birch Cemetery, near Somerville, TX
map link: https://goo.gl/maps/RcdiD9osYvckmBXC9

Austin staging location: McDonald's, 608 W Hwy 79, Hutto, TX 78634
map link: https://goo.gl/maps/TGCgDZQvKZDBg2zaA

Timeline:
7 – 7:45 am – Staging
7:45 am – Briefing
8:00 am – KSU for 1 hr 15 min ride to the cemetery.

Notes: No flag truck! Bring your big flags and water. Upon arrival at the cemetery we will form a flag line with flags off our bikes until just before the start of the service. We will then strike the flag line and depart.

Ride Captain: Mark Wells, atxpgr@gmail.com, 512-470-0380

Please reply to let me know if you can make it. You are also welcome to go directly to the cemetery if that is simpler for you.

[markwells]

Great turnout today for Mr. Plough's birthday celebration. Roughly 50 motorcycles from PGR and other groups joined some of his family members in a procession to his house. We followed a Round Rock PD car and a RRFD ladder truck to his house where we parked in the street, dismounted, and lead by his granddaughter sang him Happy Birthday.

He seemed to enjoy it. We sure did!

Thank you all who came out today for this fun mission.

[markwells]

Confirmed Mission: Riders, we have another fun mission this coming weekend. The Patriot Guard Riders have been invited to join in the birthday celebration for Mr. Paul Plough.

Mr. Plough served in the US Army during WWII, 1943 to 1946, fighting in New Guinea. He was discharged as a sergeant and then enlisted in the US Air Force and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. He left the USAF as a staff sergeant in 1953.

Date/Time: Saturday, 26 September 2020. See timeline below.

Staging location: SouthStar Bank, 3025 Ranch Rd 1431, Round Rock, TX 78681.
Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/NpHWzPsbD4KYMy7w7

Timeline:
1:00 – 1:45 pm – Staging
1:45 pm – Briefing
2:00 pm – Departure for short residential loop.

Wx: Hi 88 deg, sunny

Notes: Fly your big flags! This will be a drive-by celebration with a route through the neighborhood and past his house with LEO escort. Bring a bottle of water for yourself and one for a friend. Mind social distancing protocols during the staging. The route will be completed with no stops planned.

Ride Captain: Mark Wells, atxpgr@gmail.com, 512-470-0380
Flag Wrangler: N/A

Please come out and enjoy celebrating this veteran's birthday and thanking him for his service to our nation.

[markwells]

Confirmed Mission: The Patriot Guard Riders have been invited to participate in the funeral and interment services for Mr. Jonathan David Rubio. Mr. Rubio served 3 1/2 years in the USAF, 2017 – 2020. He was medically discharged as a Senior Airman.

An obituary has not yet been published.

Date/Time: Monday, 28 September 2020. Funeral service begins at 1 pm.

Location: Hill Country Bible Church Lakeline, 12124 Ranch Road 620 N, Austin, TX. 78750. We will stage at the church.
Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/tjE48xzSzUBHASte7

Timeline:
11:45 – 12:15 pm – Staging
12:15 pm – Briefing
12:25 pm – Flag line

Wx: Hi 72 deg, partly cloudy, windy.

Notes: Bring water for yourself and a friend. Maintain pandemic protocol during this mission. After the start of the funeral service we will strike the flag line and stand by to join the LEO escorted procession to Our Lady of the Rosary cemetery in Georgetown where we will form a second flag line for the interment service.

Ride Captain: Keith Brown, kbrownl1b@yahoo.com, (512) 422-6310
Flag Wrangler: Don Ferguson

Please attend to honor this young man's service to our nation.

[markwells]

From event organizer Tori Streff:
“Warren and Mark,

On behalf of Hillwood Communities, Wolf Ranch, Building Homes for Heroes, Perry Homes, Wolf Legacy LP, we want to sincerely thank you for your participation and attendance in our Wolf Ranch Building Homes for Heroes Ground Breaking Ceremony last week. It was by far one of the best turn outs and events they have had and we could not have done it without you! I wanted to share some wonderful photos with you that were taken during the event and this amazing event video Building Homes for Heroes has put together of the event (link below).

We hope so much we can have you all back to join us in December for the official home turn over dedication Ceremony to Kris Biggs, our Veteran, when the home is complete. It was a pleasure having your crew here and we are completely honored by their dedication – especially in the 100 degrees pure heat we experienced during the event.

Warren – you all have a feature clip near the beginning of the video
”

Video link: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__vimeo.com_user7557143_review_453751151_823492d4bf&d=DwMGaQ&c=2QifRx-wFWrOqGBWBKrCdp04tTtmmb9oIbFheKHGFMg&r=zfBAqN2KLhM00JWHlv9mLqoS2ubiXsj5v7_Xl8j6ogk&m=Jwm77dv06xOulQCFoWOTvjfl3Oz0Mnyehc–majVPmI&s=YzEFBYP_0PmVRD5CQY3yaob74gUcSh0lqrMu9p1jku0&e=

[markwells]

From Phillip Zavala, Angel Zavala's son:
“Mark, this is Phillip Zavala. I want to thank you again for your help with the Patriot Guard. They were very good, and we all were glad to see them at my father's funeral today. My siblings had no idea that they would be there, and everyone today was proud for our dad. Once again thank you so much, and may God bless you, your family, and the rest of the Patriot Guard, and may God bless the United States of America.”

[markwells]

Confirmed Mission: The Patriot Guard Riders have been invited to participate in the funeral and interment services for Mr. Richard Sanders. Mr. Sanders served honorably US Navy during WWII in the Pacific Theater. We were not able to ascertain additional details of his military service.

More about his life can be read here: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/burnet-tx/richard-sanders-9327954

Date/Time: Wednesday, 02 September 2020. Funeral service at 11 am.

Location: Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home , 306 E Polk St, Burnet, TX 78611. We will stage at the funeral home.
Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/4dvoMtUZRSJXBXQh6

Timeline:
9:50 – 10:20 am – Staging
10:20 am – Briefing
10:30 am – Flag line

Wx: Hi 85 deg, 40% rain chance

Notes: Don't forget your water and sun protection. Maintain pandemic protocol. After the start of the funeral mass we will strike the flag line and relocate to the nearby Burnet City Cemetery to form a second flag line for the interment portion.

Ride Captain: Warren Longacre, longacre@austin.rr.com, (512) 755-4163
Flag Wrangler: Nicki Campbell

Please attend to honor this veteran who defended the world against tyranny many years ago.

[markwells]

Confirmed Mission: The Patriot Guard Riders have been invited to participate in the funeral and interment services for Mr. Angel Zavala. Mr. Zavala served honorably in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, his 8th Air Force and the 2nd Bomb Division, under the command of General James Doolittle, joined forces in bombing the Beaches of Normandy prior to the landing of General Omar Bradley’s troops on Utah and Omaha beaches. He proudly served his final tour of duty in the Island of Guam and was honorably discharged on December 3, 1945.

More about his life can be read here: https://www.taylorprovidencefuneralhome.com/obituary/angel-zavala-7105831

Date/Time: Monday, 31 August 2020. Funeral mass begins at 10 am.

Location: St Mary Catholic Church, 408 Washburn St, Taylor, TX 76574. We will stage at the church.
Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/DjujpiANSX3Rgtbw8

Timeline:
8:45 – 9:15 am – Staging
9:15 am – Briefing
9:20 am – Flag line

Wx: Hi 101 deg, mostly sunny

Notes: It will be hot and humid; don't forget your water and sun protection. Maintain pandemic protocol. After the start of the funeral mass we will strike the flag line and relocate to the nearby St Mary Catholic Cemetery to form a second flag line for the interment portion.

Ride Captain: Keith Longacre, keithlongacre@att.net, (512) 751-8955
Flag Wrangler: Don Ferguson

Please attend to honor this veteran from the greatest generation.

[markwells]

At the invitation of Building Homes for Heroes, a charitable organization which provides custom-built homes to America’s wounded military heroes, the Patriot Guard Riders will participate in a ground breaking ceremony for a new home in Georgetown for Army Sergeant Kristopher Biggs.

SGT Biggs served for seven years in the military, including two tours in Iraq. During his second tour in Iraq in 2007, Sergeant Biggs was severely injured in an explosion that would eventually cost him a leg. While driving through a checkpoint on a mission, a nearby vehicle-borne explosive improvised device was detonated, setting off a blast that knocked Sergeant Biggs unconscious.

Sergeant Biggs spent seven years trying to rehab and salvage his left leg before it was finally amputated by doctors in 2014. He has since become heavily involved in athletics, particularly adapted surfing, as a form of therapy.

For his service to his country, Sergeant Biggs was awarded the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, USA/ USAF Pres Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, South West Asia Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal w/ Campaign Star and the Combat Action Badge.

Bobby Bones and the Bobby Bones show have been involved in helping the cause – website link: https://bobbybones.iheart.com/featured/bobby-bones/content/2020-06-15-bobby-surprises-veteran-with-building-homes-for-heroes-build-news/

Date/Time: Thursday, 27 August 2020. Groundbreaking ceremony begins at 11:00 am

Staging Location: The Den Wolf Ranch Amenity Center, 129 Canyon View Rd, Georgetown, TX 78628
map link: https://goo.gl/maps/pJCfBF6zXZY3n7d9A

Timeline:
10:00 am – 10:40 am – Staging
10:40 am – Briefing
10:45 am – KSU for the short ride to the home site.

Wx: Hi 96 deg F, partly cloudy

Notes: Fly your big flags! Please wear your mask and follow social distancing protocol. Upon our arrival at the staging location we will have a chance to visit with the SGT Biggs and his family. We will then accompany him and his family in a short law enforcement escorted procession to the home site where we will form a flag line for the approximate 30 minute ceremony.

Ride Captain: Warren Longacre, longacre@austin.rr.com, (512) 755-4163
Flag Wrangler: Don Ferguson

[markwells]

Confirmed mission: The Patriot Guard Riders have been invited to participate in the funeral service for Capt Grant Bogue. Capt Bogue joined the US Air Force on Nov 8, 1951. He served in the Korean War (1951-1953), stationed in Suwon and in Osan, Korea.
He was promoted to Staff Sergeant Sept 23,1952 and was discharged into the Reserves March 19, 1953. He retired as a Captain on May 16, 1973.

Information about his life can be read here: https://www.harrellfuneralhomes.com/obituary/377359/Grant-Bogue/

Date/Time: Friday, 28 August 2020. Funeral service begins at 11 am.

Location: Harrell Funeral Home, 1715 Kirby, Kyle, TX 78640. We will stage at the funeral home.
map link: https://goo.gl/maps/SNMdcfYtvmx5rkSf9

Timeline:
9:50 – 10:20 am – Staging
10:20 am – Briefing
10:30 am – Flag line

Wx: Hi 100 deg F, sunny

Notes: This is a flag line only prior to the funeral service. Bring water for yourself and for a friend. Sunscreen recommended. Interment will be at 2:30 pm the same day at Ft Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio with SAPGR in attendance.

The family has requested PGR accompaniment of the procession from Kyle to Ft Sam. This is not LEO escorted. Departure time from the funeral home is planned for 1:00 pm. It is an approximately 1 hr ride with no stops.

Ride Captain: Russ Miller, navyvetad2@gmail.com, (512) 636-9692
Flag Wrangler: Max Vasquez

Please attend to show honor and gratitude for this airman's answer to his nation's call to serve.

[markwells]

From our honoree, CMSgt Robert Sanchez

[markwells]

From Robert Sanchez on his 100 yr birthday parade

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