Patriot Guard delivers flag across country
#1
08-10-2009, 08:20 AM
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Former Mosquito County Florida
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Patriot Guard delivers flag across country
What a fine and fitting act of honor and respect of one of our fallen heros. Follow the link to the story.
http://www.news-journalonline.com/Ne...AD01081009.htm
Here's the story in case the link does not work.
August 10, 2009
Patriot Guard delivers flag cross-country to mourning family
By KENYA WOODARD
Staff Writer
PALM COAST -- When Marine Cpl. Michael Gares died in June, lack of finances prevented his two children from paying last respects to their father.
But Jennifer Gares, 18, and Andrew Gares, 16, finally got the chance to honor their father and receive the flag from the former Bunnell resident's coffin Sunday, thanks to a cross-country mission taken on by hundreds of members of the Patriot Guard riders.
The flag passed from rider to rider in a memorial mission along a route that began in Riverside, Calif., and ended at the VFW in Palm Coast, where more than 30 riders gathered in a special ceremony with Gares' family.
The observance was a surprise for Jennifer, who was very close to her father and wanted his flag, said her mother, Angela Burton.
The gesture of kindness brought tears to Jennifer's eyes and closure to both Andrew and her.
"I'm definitely grateful for it," she said. "I'm glad they did this for me."
Andrew agreed: "This meant a lot to me."
The Pony Express-like delivery of the American flag that draped Gares' coffin at memorial services in California is unlike any other the organization has done, said Ralph Terreault, assistant state captain of the Northeast Florida Patriot Guard. Founded in 2005, the Patriot Guard is made up of motorcycle enthusiasts and other citizens who attend the funeral services of veterans to pay tribute and protect mourning families from military protesters.
On occasion, riders have escorted a veteran's remains to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. But this is the first time members have carried a flag from California to Florida, Terreault said.
"It's an honor to do this, especially for someone who was a Vietnam-era veteran," he said. "Even if he had served two years, he still served his country and deserves to be honored."
The flag traveled through Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi with riders holding a special ceremony at each stop.
Riders presented a DVD of footage taken at Gares' funeral, photos of the flag's trip, personal letters and other mementos to the family.
At the time of his death, Gares, 52, was homeless and didn't have ready access to a phone. But he always found a way to call on birthdays and holidays, Jennifer said.
"He would let me know he was doing well and that he was OK," she said.
Jennifer said she last saw her father in 2001.
Recently, Gares' health was deteriorating, and Jennifer was planning to visit her grandmother in New Mexico and hoping to see her father while out West, Burton said.
But he died before she could save enough money to make the trip, she said.
Brokenhearted that she couldn't see her father before he died or attend his funeral, Jennifer asked her mother about retrieving the flag from his coffin.
Burton said she asked the funeral director about receiving Gares' flag along with his other belongings. She expected the flag would come in the mail, but the director instead contacted the Patriot Guard and members set about a more proper delivery.
"I never knew it was going to be this fantastic," she said.
Capt. Craig "Gunny" Donor of the Southern California Patriot Guard -- who helped escort the flag from California to Arizona -- said more than 50 members signed up for the mission within minutes of posting it to the organization's Web site.
Donor said Patriot Guard members who participated in the mission did so because they are proud of Gares' dedication to his country.
His family should be proud as well, he said.
"(The mission) tells them that no matter what, he did serve his country honorably," he said.
kenya.woodard@news-jrnl.com
God Bless
Mark
http://www.news-journalonline.com/Ne...AD01081009.htm
Here's the story in case the link does not work.
August 10, 2009
Patriot Guard delivers flag cross-country to mourning family
By KENYA WOODARD
Staff Writer
PALM COAST -- When Marine Cpl. Michael Gares died in June, lack of finances prevented his two children from paying last respects to their father.
But Jennifer Gares, 18, and Andrew Gares, 16, finally got the chance to honor their father and receive the flag from the former Bunnell resident's coffin Sunday, thanks to a cross-country mission taken on by hundreds of members of the Patriot Guard riders.
The flag passed from rider to rider in a memorial mission along a route that began in Riverside, Calif., and ended at the VFW in Palm Coast, where more than 30 riders gathered in a special ceremony with Gares' family.
The observance was a surprise for Jennifer, who was very close to her father and wanted his flag, said her mother, Angela Burton.
The gesture of kindness brought tears to Jennifer's eyes and closure to both Andrew and her.
"I'm definitely grateful for it," she said. "I'm glad they did this for me."
Andrew agreed: "This meant a lot to me."
The Pony Express-like delivery of the American flag that draped Gares' coffin at memorial services in California is unlike any other the organization has done, said Ralph Terreault, assistant state captain of the Northeast Florida Patriot Guard. Founded in 2005, the Patriot Guard is made up of motorcycle enthusiasts and other citizens who attend the funeral services of veterans to pay tribute and protect mourning families from military protesters.
On occasion, riders have escorted a veteran's remains to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. But this is the first time members have carried a flag from California to Florida, Terreault said.
"It's an honor to do this, especially for someone who was a Vietnam-era veteran," he said. "Even if he had served two years, he still served his country and deserves to be honored."
The flag traveled through Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi with riders holding a special ceremony at each stop.
Riders presented a DVD of footage taken at Gares' funeral, photos of the flag's trip, personal letters and other mementos to the family.
At the time of his death, Gares, 52, was homeless and didn't have ready access to a phone. But he always found a way to call on birthdays and holidays, Jennifer said.
"He would let me know he was doing well and that he was OK," she said.
Jennifer said she last saw her father in 2001.
Recently, Gares' health was deteriorating, and Jennifer was planning to visit her grandmother in New Mexico and hoping to see her father while out West, Burton said.
But he died before she could save enough money to make the trip, she said.
Brokenhearted that she couldn't see her father before he died or attend his funeral, Jennifer asked her mother about retrieving the flag from his coffin.
Burton said she asked the funeral director about receiving Gares' flag along with his other belongings. She expected the flag would come in the mail, but the director instead contacted the Patriot Guard and members set about a more proper delivery.
"I never knew it was going to be this fantastic," she said.
Capt. Craig "Gunny" Donor of the Southern California Patriot Guard -- who helped escort the flag from California to Arizona -- said more than 50 members signed up for the mission within minutes of posting it to the organization's Web site.
Donor said Patriot Guard members who participated in the mission did so because they are proud of Gares' dedication to his country.
His family should be proud as well, he said.
"(The mission) tells them that no matter what, he did serve his country honorably," he said.
kenya.woodard@news-jrnl.com
God Bless
Mark
#2
08-13-2009, 10:58 AM
Cruiser
#3
08-18-2009, 04:09 PM
Copy of an e-mail my daugher forwarded to me. She sent this e-mail to many of her friends.
I wanted to forward this email to each of you so that you could know about some very special people in this world. My dad is a member of The Patriot Guard Riders ,which is a group of men and women who attend military funerals as a sign of respect. My dad has been doing this for I think around a year and has truly enjoyed every minute of it. Each of these men and women ride their motorcycles and have American Flags flying. My dad has had the opportunity to be a person standing in respect for WW II veterans who would not normally have anyone there to pay respect to their service. This email is about a ride that the PGR was a part of a earlier this month. My dad told me the story last weekend and Chef Mike sent out this email recently thanking the City of Mobile for their assistance. The gentlemen who passed away was a Vietnam War Veteran who was living homeless in California and passed away , his daughter lives in Florida and could not attend the services that were done for him , so the PGR arranged for his flag to be HAND carried across each state and be HAND given to her in Florida. This flag was carried from state border to state border and each member of the PGR had their opportunity to pay their respects and pass the flag to each member. We are talking rides arranged from California to Florida. The PGR group my dad is a member of met at the MS line and carried to the flag to the Florida line to be given to another PGR group to make its journey home. This story warms my heart and revives my spirit that people in this world care what happens to a fellow human being on this planet no matter what. I am proud of my dad and all the other PGR riders who took the time to pay respect to man who deserved it and to make a difference to his daugher and give her a flag to rememeber her dad by. This is truly American Pride .
Thanks dad and fellow PGR rider across America,
Jennifer
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.58/2306 - Release Date: 08/16/09 06:09:00
7 Attached Images
I wanted to forward this email to each of you so that you could know about some very special people in this world. My dad is a member of The Patriot Guard Riders ,which is a group of men and women who attend military funerals as a sign of respect. My dad has been doing this for I think around a year and has truly enjoyed every minute of it. Each of these men and women ride their motorcycles and have American Flags flying. My dad has had the opportunity to be a person standing in respect for WW II veterans who would not normally have anyone there to pay respect to their service. This email is about a ride that the PGR was a part of a earlier this month. My dad told me the story last weekend and Chef Mike sent out this email recently thanking the City of Mobile for their assistance. The gentlemen who passed away was a Vietnam War Veteran who was living homeless in California and passed away , his daughter lives in Florida and could not attend the services that were done for him , so the PGR arranged for his flag to be HAND carried across each state and be HAND given to her in Florida. This flag was carried from state border to state border and each member of the PGR had their opportunity to pay their respects and pass the flag to each member. We are talking rides arranged from California to Florida. The PGR group my dad is a member of met at the MS line and carried to the flag to the Florida line to be given to another PGR group to make its journey home. This story warms my heart and revives my spirit that people in this world care what happens to a fellow human being on this planet no matter what. I am proud of my dad and all the other PGR riders who took the time to pay respect to man who deserved it and to make a difference to his daugher and give her a flag to rememeber her dad by. This is truly American Pride .
Thanks dad and fellow PGR rider across America,
Jennifer
#AOLMsgPart_3_5eb075d7-e236-400e-a8c7-4614a5de6f52 #yiv1132807405 P { MARGIN: 0px}To:
Captain Eddie Burrow
Mobile Police Department
Special Operations Commander:
Eddie-
What a sensational and outstanding group of young men you are, I am certain, extremely proud to be leading! Officers Ryan and Charlie went way above and far beyond in their truly respectful, totally professional and completely dignified presence at the PGR Memorial Mission for fallen Vietnam Vet, USMC LCpl. Michael Gares on Friday 8/7/2009. Thanks goes to you and to them but, thanks is really not enough. They, Officers Ryan and Charlie, safely and expertly guided and escorted our large PGR group and support vehicles throughout the entire 80+ miles and 5+ hours of the Alabama leg of this Coast to Coast Memorial Mission Pony Express Ride. Although the temperature was very hot and very humid and the East bound Friday evening I -10 traffic from the Alabama to Florida borders was crazy,hectic, heavy and fast paced, Officers Ryan and Charlie confidently handled themselves. there motorcycles, the traffic and our motorcycle group with calm efficient expertize.
As well, Officers Ryan and Charlie both honestly, respectfully and, sincerely joined in on the honors for this fallen Vietnam Vet. There service to us will long be fondly remembered and deeply appreciated.
I and my brother and sister Patriot Guard Riders are always honored to ride beside you and your men. On behalf of the Patriot Guard Riders I offer you all our sincere and heartfelt gratitude and most genuine appreciation for a job expertly done!
May God bless you one and all!
I remain~
Respectfully yours,
Chef Mike
Mike "HogChef" Byears, aka "Chef Mike"
National Patriot Guard Rider 3•16•2006
PGR Ride Captain www.patriotguard.org
South Alabama
"Doing the right thing and standing for those who stood for us"
Captain Eddie Burrow
Mobile Police Department
Special Operations Commander:
Eddie-
What a sensational and outstanding group of young men you are, I am certain, extremely proud to be leading! Officers Ryan and Charlie went way above and far beyond in their truly respectful, totally professional and completely dignified presence at the PGR Memorial Mission for fallen Vietnam Vet, USMC LCpl. Michael Gares on Friday 8/7/2009. Thanks goes to you and to them but, thanks is really not enough. They, Officers Ryan and Charlie, safely and expertly guided and escorted our large PGR group and support vehicles throughout the entire 80+ miles and 5+ hours of the Alabama leg of this Coast to Coast Memorial Mission Pony Express Ride. Although the temperature was very hot and very humid and the East bound Friday evening I -10 traffic from the Alabama to Florida borders was crazy,hectic, heavy and fast paced, Officers Ryan and Charlie confidently handled themselves. there motorcycles, the traffic and our motorcycle group with calm efficient expertize.
As well, Officers Ryan and Charlie both honestly, respectfully and, sincerely joined in on the honors for this fallen Vietnam Vet. There service to us will long be fondly remembered and deeply appreciated.
I and my brother and sister Patriot Guard Riders are always honored to ride beside you and your men. On behalf of the Patriot Guard Riders I offer you all our sincere and heartfelt gratitude and most genuine appreciation for a job expertly done!
May God bless you one and all!
I remain~
Respectfully yours,
Chef Mike
Mike "HogChef" Byears, aka "Chef Mike"
National Patriot Guard Rider 3•16•2006
PGR Ride Captain www.patriotguard.org
South Alabama
"Doing the right thing and standing for those who stood for us"
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.58/2306 - Release Date: 08/16/09 06:09:00
7 Attached Images
#4
08-18-2009, 04:47 PM
Cruiser
I'm glad this has all worked out for you and that it was done. Unfortunately, I my case I have made two phone calls to the funeral home where we did the mission for Karen Clifton. The funeral home contacted the father twice. I have yet to receive an email or a phone call. I don't know why they don't want the flag I brought back, but I guess they must have their reasons. I guess I'll just keep it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
