Mission Complete.

I have put off typing those words for over 24 hours.  Maybe typing those words meant I had to say goodbye too?
  43 bikes and 5 cages gathered yesterday with the town of Marana, alot of friends and family...Linda.   This mission was different.  This was to honor one of us..this was about family, and this time it was OUR family. 

The staging started out in the usual way...we gathered, we spoke of safety.  We prayed and we held hands as "God Bless the USA" played.  Somehow nothing else was usual after that point.  As we approached the mortuary it was very clear that Thingy was important to many more than us.  There were city fire fighters and officers of the law.  City vehicles lined the road.  Linda would say later how surprised she was that so many cared.  After speaking with so many of those present...well, the Patriot Guard was so lucky to have had a man of such love in it's midst...even if for such a short time.  The line never seemed to get shorter as we all waited our turn to honor Thingy and give Linda a hug.  Not sure why..but for me it was important to give Thingy one of my Mission Accomplished pins.  Couldn't be a new one, it had to be something we had shared...a Mission. 

The procession was escorted by the Airborne Flag and the American Flag (carried by two men who not only loved him but shared his love of this country as well).  There was no doubt a Hero was moving to his last duty station.  The flags of all armed forces fell in behind and then a van of Heroes who shared him with us followed.  For about an hour thru winding roads of Sonoita to Sierra Vista and the National Cemetary. 

The new National Cemetary here is beautiful, and I felt somehow that Thingy would see that beauty and feel the peace there.  The service was short..but probably the most emotional I had seen.  The American Legion "preacher" spoke with reddened eyes and a voice that was hoarse...and we knew he too was speaking to a Brother, a friend. 

Usually at the end of a mission we quietly ride off.  Some go alone, some meet up with others.  We were slow to leave this one.  Patriot Guard riders felt the loss of a part of us.  We gathered in a circle and once again played "God Bless the USA".  I needed to feel us pulling together, maybe we all needed to feel that. 
And then...some road away quietly, some gathered with others.  All of us left knowing we were blessed to carry our friend in our hearts. 

Our Brother, our Friend we honor you and thank you for your service to this country.  We thank you for your service to the PGR and to all those who shared the wind with you.  I thank you for being my Hero.

PGR, you all served your Brother proud and I thank you all for so much.  Thank you for sharing the day with me this time.  Gene, Warthog, Blue and Iron Ass...Great job Guys!

Linda, you have shared with us your dearest heart...thank you.  Thank you for allowing us to honor him and esort his final mission.  I hope you find comfort in the knowledge that we road with the hearts of 52,000 PGR members....many of them breaking as I know yours was.  Please know you are in our hearts.

Yes it is time.....

Mission Accomplished Thingy...and you did it with passion, love and man oh man...what a life!