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Completed Mission:
It was a beautiful day for this mission. A little chilly early but by noon it was perfect. There were 6 riders in the flag including myself.Nicki left the house early and found the cemetery and burial site, posted a couple of flags there then headed over to Burnet to post flags at the funeral home.
The hero we honored today had 3 sons who were Marines. They were in attendance and all conveyed how proud their Mom was of her Marines, so we made sure she had ample opportunity to see the Marine flag flying in honor of her husband. We were joined by a seventh rider for the procession to the cemetery. A LEO escort was made available for the first half of the trip to the cemetery. The cemetery portion of this mission was conducted by the Highland Lakes honor who always do an outstanding job and today was no exception.
The family was extremely pleased that we were there and nearly all made an effort to thanks us and express how important it was to all of them that we were there to honor their loved one. The exceptional outpouring of appreciation from them served as a strong reminder for us to remember why we do these missions.
Thank you to all the Riders who participated in this mission.
Respectfully Submitted,
R.S.(Soup) Campbell, Ride CaptainThe following message was received from the family of Edwin Lee Coleman. Good job Riders.
Gary,
Please be sure this gets to each individual that rode.
Each were professionally impressive.To Whom it May concern:
Dear Ride Captain,
Judy & I attended a Funeral Service @ Jenkins Funeral Home in Burnet, Texas Sunday, 4 May 2025 for a Veteran “Edwin Lee Coleman”.
I, being a Veteran, was extremely proud He was supported by “The Patriot Guard Riders”. The eight members, male & female, exhibited a powerful testament to the spirit of camaraderie and a profound tribute to our fallen hero.
We were so proud of their steadfast devotion & professionalism.
Please share our appreciation and admiration with these fine Riders.
“ A job well done, providing dignity and support to the family and honoring the veteran.”
Be Blessed & your humble servants,
SGM Raymond Williams, U S Army( Retired) & Judy Bryan-WilliamsCompleted Mission:
6 PGR members attended the mission for this hero, a Bronze Star recipient. As usual, Nicki showed up early and got flags posted at the parking lot entrance. The church and setting were beautiful and the service well attended. The weather was great. The entrance to the church had a covered patio large enough for all flag line participants to be in the shade. Sergeant Kneeland’s sister-in-law, his wife, Linda and friend Luke all made individual efforts to come to our staging area and thank us for being there. Nearly every one who attended acknowledged and showed appreciation for us being there.
Respectfully Submitted, R.S.(Soup) Campbell, Ride Captain.Completed Mission.
It was a beautiful morning with plenty of sunshine to ease the sting of the cool air in Georgetown, as 13 PGR members stood for SP4 Larry Buck Holland, a US Army Veteran. Nicki was there early and got the flags set up to mark the entrance to the church. There were no first timers and Russ’s daughter, Kate, was the clear recipient of the recognition as the one who came the farthest. She came all the way from Virginia!! Thanks for joining us Kate.Jim,the funeral director at Ramsey Funeral Home escorted the entire family to the flag line where they greeted and thanked each PGR member. It was thoughtful and much appreciated part of this successful mission.
R.S.(Soup) Campbell, Ride Captain
Eight Patriot Guard Riders were present to honor PFC Medina today, including members of the San Antonio PGR. Nicki was there early and got a few flags posted before anyone arrived. It was a beautiful day but started to get a little warm about the time we finished. Fortunately only 2 riders got stuck in the sun but they were able to switch with members who were in the shade at around the half way point. Family members and friends all expressed appreciation for our presence at the service.
The mission was straight forward and completed without a hitch.
RIP PFC Ismael Medina.
Completed Mission:
Six PGR members participated in the mission to honor this extraordinary hero today. Nicki arrived early and posted flags at the entrance to the church. We lucked out weather wise as it was humid but not too hot. A light cloud cover broke the sun a little while we were in the flag line. A good deal since there was no shade!
Most every attendee for the service acknowledged our presence by thanking us for being there. Mrs. Bonney expressed her heartfelt thanks to me personally when I presented her the card signed by all our members who attended. She was clearly pleased by our presence.
Thank you for all who attended and stood for this distinguished hero.
RIP Charles Edward Bonney, Colonel, United States Army, Ret.
Soup Campbell, Ride Captain
Mission Complete.
There were only 3 of us there to honor this hero but it worked out well. Nicki arrived early and was able to locate both entrances to the church/school complex and get flags staked there.
Mrs. Cruz arrived early, before the casket and came to greet us and thank us for being there. She conveyed, emotionally, her strong feelings of pride when she drove into the parking lot and saw the Marine Corps flag we had posted in our staging area. She was moved and expressed several times how grateful she was that we were there. Shortly thereafter, the hearse arrived and I greeted the funeral director to determine which entrance to the church they were going to use and also offered our assistance as they did not have pallbearers available. They did not need help so Warren and I posted between the hearse and the entrance and rendered honors as they moved him inside.
Nicki is not able to stand for long periods due to her recent knee replacement so Warren and I were the flag line. The good part about that is that no one had to stand in the hot sun. We posted at the church entrance which was under the roof. We were greeted by the brother and sister who both were very appreciative of our presence. The flag line stood a little longer than usual as we stood for the Rosary which was 30 mins prior to the funeral. We stood down a couple of minutes after the funeral started and no arriving attendees were inbound.
While our numbers were small, the appreciation for our participation was as strong as ever so this was very successful mission. Thanks Warren for being there so I did not have to hold 2 flags!!
RIP Edward Patrick Cruz, USMC
Soup Campbell, Ride Captain
Seven PGR members came to honor this hero today. The 2 from Leander came the farthest. It was a beautiful morning with moderate temperatures and a nice breeze and plenty of shade for the staging and the flag line.
Several family members stopped by the staging area to express their appreciation for our presence at the service. Of particular note is the fact that the hero’s sister Linda stayed for the briefing and was able to add some details regarding his service that would otherwise not have been known.
The flag line was uneventful and we were able to cover the 2 entrances with the members that were present. All members really appreciated the shade and breeze. It was a very successful mission that garnered several comments of thanks for us being there.
RIP Sergeant Charlesa Ray Calhoun
Thank you to all who put forth the effort to attend. You were clearly appreciated.
Soup Campbell, Ride Captain
Completed Mission: Nine PGR members were there to honor this hero. We had one new rider, Larry Webb of Kingsland, a member of the Kingsland American Legion Post #437. We also had 2 other Kingsland American Legion Post members, including the Post Commmander, Mike Wheeler. Nicki showed up early and posted flags by the road so that people could easily ID the entrance to the church. We were blessed by a nice breeze and cooler temperatures at the church portion of the mission as the result of a squall line that went through north of our area. It did not last for the burial portion, as it was hot and very humid.
The flag line at the church was uneventful. The hero’s daughter made a special effort to come out and thank us for being there and other family members asked to take pictures of the flag line.
At the start of the service we stood down the flag line and Warren assumed Ride Captain duties for the escort portion of the mission so that I could accompany Nicki to the cemetery and help get ready for the flag line there. When Nicki and I arrived at the Lakeland Hills Memorial Park, the Highland Lakes Honor Guard were already on the scene. They had posted the US, Army and Texas flags at the grave site so we did not post or carry an Army Flag. The Highland Lakes Honor Guard took care of military ceremonial parts of the burial portion of the mission including taps, gun salute, folding and presenting of the flag and prayer. Their conduct of the military ceremonial portion was impressive.Good mission. RIP Sergeant Willie Joseph Danos.
Completed Mission: It was hot and humid but 15 PGR members showed up to honor Monty “Dude” Gage. Nicki posted a few flags to help find the event center. The setting was nice but several members had to endure standing in the sun. Frances Gage made the trek across the parking lot to thank us for being there to honor her husband. Amanda Gage did likewise. We had members from Elgin & Bastrop who came the farthest. We also had a first time rider, Adam, from Spicewood and Dewey, a Centex rider and friend of the family who caged it down from San Saba. There were 2 entrances so we posted riders at both. There was a big turnout and both entrances were used. Sara Guajardo, the bugler, who came from San Antonio hung out with us until the start. Her dedication was impressive. Thanks to Mike Jones for providing Amanda the info she needed to contact Bugles Across America. The service was started by the bugler playing the Army song and that was our key to stand down the flag line but we did it a couple minutes early which was 10 minutes after the scheduled start time because of the heat affecting members standing in the sun. Thanks to Judy Story, wife of member Calvin Story for joining us in the flag line and thank you Warren for leading us in prayer for the family.
Thanks to Cameron and Hillary from Spicewood Vineyards for helping Nicki and I with the flag posting plan.
It was an honor to participate in this successful mission. RIP SP5 Monty Gage.
Mission complete. Five Austin PGR members stood the flag line during the arrival of the procession from San Antonio with the LEO escort and several members of the San Antonio PGR. Nicki arrived early and staked a few extra flags in anticipation of a small turn out due to there being 2 other missions. Tommy Goldenshoe, Scott and Maria Gray arrived a little early and assisted in organizing our small flag line. Tommy was the rider who came the farthest and was also the only bike rider today. It turned out to be a long day as the procession was delayed in San Antonio and was 2 hours late. Special thanks to San Antonio Deputy State Captain, Bob Johnson, for calling to give us a heads up regarding the late arrival.
Duke”s son, Billy Jack, rode with the procession and carried his father’s remains on his Harley. Members of the family expressed their appreciation for our presence to honor their loved one.
Thanks to the Austin and the San Antonio riders for staying and helping Nicki retrieve and stow the staked flags. This was especially appreciated because Soup was on crutches and was unable to help.
R.S.(Soup) Campbell, Ride Captain
COMPLETED MISSION.
Eight patriots braved a pretty cool, gusty breeze to pay tribute to this fallen hero. Nicki showed up early and staked flags at the entrance to the funeral home. The entire service was at the grave site which was within walking distance from the funeral home parking lot where we staged so as to not interfere with family traffic. The sunshine was a welcome change from the week or 2 of overcast but the wind was a little chilly. Several family members walked the flag line to thank each individual for being there to honor their loved one. It was a good and appreciated mission. Thanks all who made the effort to attend.
RIP Warren F. Weber, USN.
Completed Mission:
Six patriots showed up for this short notice service honoring QM2 Byron Sage. It was a beautiful sunny day in a gorgeous setting at the Life Austin Church campus. Nicki arrived early and posted flags at the campus entrance on Hwy 71. We had one first time rider, David from north Austin. Mr. Sages’ son and one other family member made a special effort prior to the service to personally thank us us for being there. There was a good turnout of friends and family and almost every one who passed down the flag line expressed sincere gratitude for our presence.
RIP QM2 Sage.
R.S. (Soup) Campbell, Ride CaptainCOMPLETED MISSION: Five riders stood the flag line for Mr. Yanchak today. Mr. Yanchak’s son, Nathan, rode with us in the escort from the funeral home to the cemetery. There was no service at the funeral home, so there was not a lot of people in the procession. Just immediate family that consisted of 3 trucks. The cemetery was a beautiful setting and there was a large number of people there for the service at the cemetery. Nicki arrived there early and had flags posted at the entrance to the cemetery, the entrance to the burial site which had big rocks restricting vehicle traffic and the burial site which was about 75′ past the rocks. I previewed the site for Nicki on my way to Burnet. I had stopped in the middle of the cemetery and was looking for the burial site when a truck pulled up beside me. The driver rolled the window down and said, “Hi, I’m June Yanchak”. She then got out of the truck and I was able to extend my condolences receive a great thank you hug from her. She was tearfully grateful that we were going to be there. It was a unique and meaningful experience for both of us.
The funeral was short and consisted of religious and military honors. Mrs. Yanchak walked the short flag line again thanking every one for being there.
The funeral home Director, Mr. Jenkins was very helpful and the Burnet PD did a great job escorting us out of the Burnet city limits.
It was good to see Tommy Goldenshoe who was back from a pretty long bike trip. Jimmie came the furthest. Thanks to Nicki for the good job placing the flags and having them ready when the flag line participants arrived. David, Jimmie and Tommy all help pick up the posted flags and stakes. Nicki really appreciates that. Thanks to all for coming and for helping.
RIP Dennis A. Yanchak, United States Marine.
Soup Campbell, Ride Captain.
Today, 10 PGR members stood the flag line to honor William (Bill) Alan Scott. Mr. Scott is the father-in-law of Perry Koehn, a PGR member since 2007. Nicki arrived early to post flags prior to visitation. It was only 90 degrees but very humid. We welcomed a first time rider Terry Siems. The rider who rode the furthest to attend was Sammie Seahawk, who rode from Houston, AGAIN (a true road warrior). Mrs. Scott, Bill’s wife of 63 years walked the flag line with several family members to thank each for being there. Bill’s son Larry made it a point to shake each members hand and thank them for being there. Thanks to Nicki for bringing much appreciated water and putting up and taking down the flags. Thanks to all who attended and especially those who helped Nicki by picking up flags posted at both entrances to the church. A special thanks to Perry for meeting Nicki and Soup and providing them with info from the obituary, recommending the best place for the riders to park and going over the best place to post the flag line since there were 2 entrances to the church. He also, provided plates of cookies and brownies from the buffet in the church.
RIP William Alan Scott. R.S. Campbell, Ride CaptainMission Complete. 11 Patriot Guard Members stood the flag line to honor this veteran. Many family members expressed their sincere appreciation for our participation in this service. Mrs. Cunningham, the widow, had previously asked if there would be some motorcycles present. We had parked away from the Chapel so as to not be in the way and when I informed her of that practice she ask if they could park in the circular drive right outside the Chapel entrance. She let me know that Mr. Cunningham had 5 motorcycles and was a real riding enthusiast. We decided to bring 3 Harley’s, with our most season’d riders up near the Chapel entrance so that they could be seen by arriving attendees and could also be heard as they departed at the beginning of the service. All family members were pleased that we were able to do that.
Thank you to all members who participated in this mission. Your participation was truly appreciated.
RIP Sgt. Cunningham.
Soup Campbell, Ride Captiain
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