From reading the thread and receiving a few calls I thought we might have about 10 PGR members for this Mission………….25 Riders and supporters showed to honor Sgt. James “Eddie” Williams this morning!  So we’re not much into “talk’in the talk,” but we sure are into “walk’in the walk.”  Eddie’s family, friends, American Legion Brothers and the whole community appreciated our presence there today.  Eddie was a Vet and a fellow Biker, so it was really important to me to be there for him today. 

I got a call from Batfish at a little before 0800 saying he was at the meet-up and where was everybody?  He left home hours before daybreak as did many of the others ‘cause he didn’t want to be late.  Well, after I wrapped a towel around myself and chatted a moment, I knew I was runn’in late.  “Give me about 20 min” I told him.  Well, I got to the Fastrip at about 0845 and what a surprise, bikes and flags everywhere!  A quick hop-off the bike with hugs and “hi” to some old and new friends.  I’m not too good with names but folks rode in from Sac, San Jose, Fontana, Pollock Pines, and closer to home.  A short safety talk and then the American Legion Riders were giv’in us the high sign that it was time to roll.  We may have left a bit early (sorry Doc Bart and Red Raven).  Our formation was kinda “loose,” and I made an impromptu request for Guards to block the intersections on the fly.  It all worked out.

Mitch, the Post Commander came over and shook everybody’s hand and introduced me to a young man in uniform who is in the Reserves and I thought how long will it be before he gets called up?  He also showed me his Dad sitting in the car and was so proud he could be there even though he had suffered a stroke.  Eddie’s wife was with family the entire time and I’m sorry to say I didn’t get to meet her.

There were six American Legion Riders to escort their Brother and they blocked intersections on the 6-mile ride out of Kerman to Fresno.  At the graveside, a crowd slowly gathered.  There must have been well over a hundred people there by the time the service began and the Minister reminded us that a times, there are only a handful of people who come to pay last respects.  This is one of the great gifts the PGR gives to our heroes; that they will not have died in vein and we will not let them be forgotten.

Eddie’s Pall Bearers did something special for him; they carried him in a “Parade March” around the perimeter of the service then safely laid him to rest.  You could feel their pain; these were not young men.  It was their honor to bear the burden of one of their own.  Cal “Sgt. Major” did an excellent job of calling the PGR to Attention and Dismissal; a Marine never losses that commanding voice.