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Riding w/ the Patriot Guard

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 8:09 am
by longtooth
Friday I experienced the greatest honor I have been privileged to be a part of. I rode as a "Cager" w/ the Patriot Guard. "Cager" a rider in a pickup truck as opposed to riding a Harley. I was there at the invitation of a new friend, Terry Clark, a biker in Patriot Guard.
I was part of the Flag Line at the funeral of one of our fallen soldiers. Ssgt Scott Burgess. Killed in action in Afganastan defending liberty & keeping our enemies at bay over there instead of bombing school busses that our Grandchildren are on. Many other soft targets.
westboro ilk (I will never call them a church) was there though I never say them personally. On the flag line, I was at the church & then at the graveside at the cemetary. There were other lines of defense outside where I was to keep them away from the family. Others talked of seeing them.
Small town of about 1400 & the outpouring of patriotism & family support was more than this outsider can express in words or even the pics that follow. There is no doubt in my mind that well over half that little town turned out in one place or another to support, comfort, & encourage the family.
Most of the pics that follow were taken from my truck on the way to the cemetary. Thus the poor quality. One hand driving at 50mph & the other snapping pictures as was possible. These are only a tiny portion of the Patriotism that was shown. Many pics were not good enough to post. There were SEVERAL that I missed because I had to drive & could not get them.
Short comments at each photo as we all honor this young man & all others protection us, our children & families.

Leaving the church streets were lined w/ Patriot Citizens.
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Law Enforcement was every where both honoring & a protective ring around the family preventing disturbance by anyone.
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Places of business turned out for the Flag Line procession on the way to the cemetary. There is no doubt in my heart that an hr later when the Funeral Procession came that there were even more.
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Households & families honored their home town hero.
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Individuals stopped on both sides of the rd to pay respects.
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It was 14 miles to the cemetary. We were led by 14 LEOs. Every mile one dropped out of the escort line of the Patriot Guard. When the Funeral procession came there was a LEO every mile of the way to insure their protection from disturbance from westboro ilk.
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Places of business flew their flags 1/2 staff. I did not see a flag full staff in the county.
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Even Individurals lowered Flags.
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Many displays of Patriotism along the way. I caught only a few.
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Entering the cemetary.
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Veteran Honor Guard. 2 WWll vets.
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Flag Line at the grave side.
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The Flag line completely surrounded the graveside. My guess 30yds radius circling the Family Canopy.
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I pledge alegance to the Flag of the United States of America & to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisable, with liberty & justice for all.

Re: Riding w/ the Patriot Guard

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 8:14 am
by A-R
:thumbs2: :thumbs2:
:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

Re: Riding w/ the Patriot Guard

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 9:32 am
by E.Marquez
Thank you for being there. :patriot: You truly are an honorable person.
I wish I could have been. Image

I see our CAV patch proudly displayed. Thats nice. Im happy our detail got the call. I trust they did well.

As I spend my last weekend at home before heading to Afghanistan,, I sit here in this calm morning and think.. At least.. if I come home in a bag....... there will be this kind of support for my wife and sons. It aint enough, but it's more then I deserve.

Congrats on your first mission, I hope it will not be your last. (actually I hope there is not a need for another, but that is just fantasy)

Re: Riding w/ the Patriot Guard

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 9:46 am
by speedsix
...bronco78, our prayers are with you as you go...

Re: Riding w/ the Patriot Guard

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 9:51 am
by speedsix
...longtooth...retired, huh??? you're still doing the Lord's work!!! thanks from all of us vets... :patriot:

Re: Riding w/ the Patriot Guard

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:52 am
by cougartex
:patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

Re: Riding w/ the Patriot Guard

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:56 am
by flintknapper
My utmost respect and appreciation for the fallen young man.

My prayers for his family and friends.


"Good Job" to ALL who came out in support of this hero and his family.

:patriot:

Re: Riding w/ the Patriot Guard

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 1:25 pm
by longtooth
Bronco78 you were well represented & can be proud of your unit. It will not be my last. Thank you for your service & allowing me to sleep well at night not worring at this time about my grandchildren in the morning.

Speedsix, thank you vets. Dad was a WWll & Korean combat vet. Son retired & did his time in the Sandbox. In the middle I took my physical & was classed 4F due to asthma & others major alergies. This is my service since they would not let me have a uniform. We all do our part.

Re: Riding w/ the Patriot Guard

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 1:37 pm
by baldeagle
Longtooth, as a vet I want to thank you for honoring our fallen. I've been a member of the Patriot Guard Riders for several years now and I've driven my '48 Chevy pickup in parades as a member, but I've never been to a burial. I just can't take it emotionally. I have the deepest respect for those vets and honorary vets like yourself that ride in those processions. You do a great service that is well deserved by those being honored. From something really despicable (Westboro Church) something really wonderful came into being.

Re: Riding w/ the Patriot Guard

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 1:46 pm
by longtooth
Yes sir, God will do something good when Satan raises his ugly head. I have 36yrs in the pulpit of a Baptist Church. I have never capitalized westboro nor will I ever call it a church.

Re: Riding w/ the Patriot Guard

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 1:55 pm
by Dub
Great job Longtooth. Tomorrow (Sunday) will be the S.E. Texas PGR's turn to stand tall and silent as Maj. Hinkley's remains will be flown into Houston Intercontinental. While the cemetery services are not easy, standing a flag line as the charter jet taxi's in and seeing the family receive the remains is really gut wrenching.
Again, thank you for caring enough to be there for the fallen and their family.

Re: Riding w/ the Patriot Guard

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 9:10 pm
by texanron
Thanks for sharing Longtooth!

Re: Riding w/ the Patriot Guard

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:31 am
by helicopterpilotdoug
Longtooth, THANK YOU!!! It's so good to see our Brothers doing such a wonderful job of keeping westboro away from the family. Thanks also for sharing your photos.

bronco78, THANK YOU for your service from a old Cav Trooper. (Cavalier 16, C/1/9 1st Cav 1969) Prayers are with you.

Re: Riding w/ the Patriot Guard

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 7:40 am
by RPBrown
First, Bronco78, thank you for your service. You stay safe and remember, you have a nation's prayers and support behind you. :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

LT, I'm glad you got experience this. As a PGR member myself, I feel it is the least I can do to honor those that have given the ultimate for our freedom. You cannot go to a soldiers funeral without feeling the honor, pride, and sorrow, around them and their families. :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

Thanks for posting LT

Re: Riding w/ the Patriot Guard

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 10:37 am
by puma guy
Longtooth,
What a wonderful thing. I was not aware of The Patriot Guard until they escorted my Dad's service last month. They are truly a great bunch of men and women. I could hardly believe the number of riders that came to honor him, a member of the Greatest Generation. One fellow came all the way from Willis to Pasadena to join in. Their presence added a special honor and dignity to the service and I can't think of a better way to honor fallen service men and women and all our veterans. I know you must have had a great sense of pride in participating. I found out from a member that my brother is a member and takes part in their escorts when he can. I knew that he rode escort with the MS150 and a couple of other charity rides because I always sponser a couple of riders, but was unaware of his particiipation in the PG. After seeing and meeting them I say God Bless! :patriot: