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willprevale 
Posts: 0
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| 07 Dec 2005 12:38 PM |
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This is a go. CPL Taylor's body is being delivered to the funeral home this evening (Dec 7) at 7:30. I spoke with his step father a few minutes ago and he is enthusiastic about our presence. I will post the funeral date as soon as I know. Stayu on yout toes.
BTW, my bike was wrecked by an errant 18 wheeler just before Thanksgiving. I'll be there but I'm gonna need all the help I can get. |
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Zippy
Posts: 6637
Phoenix, AZ
National Forum Admin
User Accounts Admin
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| 14 Dec 2006 11:24 PM |
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VenturaCowboy User is Offline
Posts: 545
Houston, TX
21 Dec 2005 11:48 AM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert
Sgt. Michael C. Taylor, 23, of Hockley, Texas, died in Balad, Iraq, on Dec. 7, when an improvised expolsive device detonated near his Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck while his unit was conducting combat operations. Taylor was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery, 214th Field Artillery Brigade, III Corps Artillery, Fort Sill, Okla.
The Miracle Mission
(Sorry this ride report is a bit tardy, but I was sick the day of the mission, again yesterday and was feeling a little worse last night. I called this the miracle mission because it was a miracle that anyone was even able to show up on such short notice -- VenturaCowboy)
I awoke at a little after 6:00 AM Monday morning and after a little coffee, dutifully padded into my home office to check on overnight events at PatriotGuard.org before heading out on my daily 1 hour ride into work. Nearly falling out of my chair, I find that a fellow member from Arizona (Hardbite) has posted an actual funeral notice at 6:23 AM for the very soldier our State Captain (BonRu) and I had been so diligently trying to establish a mission for.
The announcement, from the Houston Chronicle, stated that Visitation had already been held the night before and that the Funeral Services would be held today, at 2 PM followed by interment with full military honors. TODAY! As in a little less than 8 HOURS FROM NOW??? I went from shocked, to flabbergasted, and finally to full panic mode in a matter of seconds. Bonnie had been on the phone all the previous week with the funeral directors and even as late as last Friday was being told that "maybe we'll know a little bit more about a funeral date sometime next week".
Well, now it's "next week" and I'm realizing that we don't even have permission from the family yet and even if we did, we're talking about somehow getting people to help us stage a mission that is just a few hours away. Frantically pounding out a bunch of emails, I settled the debate with myself from the earlier hours of the morning regarding whether I really wanted to ride into work on a mid-30 degree morning or take the cage. Now faced with this latest news, it no longer was even a decision. I would ride, knowing that this very well may turn out to be a "solo" mission.
Hoping that Bonnie had gotten my message, my cell phone was already ringing as I pulled into the garage at work. She was as flabbergasted about the situation as I was. After an emergency "meeting of the minds" over several phone calls, Bonnie went into "full deployment" mode. In the space of less than an hour she was able to finally get the funeral home to release the name of the family spokesperson to us (turned out to be Sgt. Taylor's step-father), express condolences to the family, receive permission for the PGR to attend, research staging area and funeral locations, and put together a first-class final mission itinerary, including Google map links to important locations. Guys let me tell you -- Bonnie does Texas Proud and I'm proud that she is my State Captain!
Bonnie sent out mass emails notifying the Texas membership that we had an emergency last minute request for riders and by noon the first responses started trickling in. We had three riders confirmed (including myself) and three more 'hopefuls'. I was thankful for anything at this point. After doing a little web-crafting and reformatting of Bonnie's mission itinerary to fit into the title post of the Sgt. Taylor thread (that's the first post of any topic), I let work know that I needed to take the rest of the day as a vacation day to support a personal matter. (Note: If you like the format we came up with and think it might work for your State, please let the web team know -- web@patriotguard.org. It's something we're currently discussing as a way to improve the usability of the site.)
This was my first mission as Ride Captain and was a learning experience for me. Trying to balance work issues with wanting to lead this ride, I miscalculated the amount of time I needed to get to the Staging Area and left work later than I should have. Arriving at the predetermined spot, over 10 minutes late at 1:27 PM, I found an empty parking lot awaiting me. After dismounting long enough to attach my PGR banner and an American flag, I peered down the street hoping some other folks had run into the same traffic I did.
I left the staging area at 1:33 PM to where the funeral service was to be held at First Baptist Church in Tomball, determined that even if it was just me attending -- that the PGR would stand proud and stand tall. My heart soared as I rounded the corner of Pine Street and saw a lone rider waiting directly across from the church. This would turn out to be Doug "Gold Wing Rider" who after waiting on me for almost an hour at the staging area (sorry again Doug) had decided to move on to the church.
We introduced ourselves to funeral home representatives and then I went in search of Sgt. Taylor's step-father, Mr. Curtis Tompkins. I found Mr. Tompkins inside the church and expressed our sincere condolences on behalf of the PGR. I told him we were there to honor his son, that we understood the sacrifice that had been made, and that we considered his son a true hero. It was a heartfelt moment as we then just stood; with right hands still clasped in mid-handshake, both of us wept with an understanding that Mike was gone -- but also that we would not let him be forgotten.
Shortly after, our third and final rider John "JohnnyD" arrived. We positioned ourselves directly across the street from the front doors of the church as the funeral service began. When LEO arrived on their motorcycles, "JR" (one of the Harris County Sheriff's deputies assigned to the procession) approached us and stood around to chat with us. We had met him the week before on another mission and he stated he was glad to see us again and thought what we were doing was a great thing.
The doors of the church opened signifying the end of the funeral service. From each side of the street, three Patriot Guard Riders and four LEO motorcyclists stood at attention while the pallbearers completed their journey to the hearse and we held our salutes until the door was closed.
Mr. Tompkins had asked that we accompany the procession to the cemetery and the funeral home inserted us behind the immediate family after we mounted up. My heart swelled with pride as I watched folks in this small town of Tomball, flags flying at half-mast, begin to pull over and get out of their cars as we passed through its main streets. One image in particular will never leave my mind. It was one of a lone firefighter, standing at perfect attention in the solitary open bay door of his station, saluting as the entire procession wove by.
We ended at a country cemetery, set back so far down a gravel road that one would have never known it was there except for the small weathered sign marked "Foltin Memorial Lane". Dismounting our rides respectively off to one side, we stood by our bannered bikes with their American flags flying in the light breeze and watched as the family and friends filed past. Once again we snapped to attention and saluted as Sgt. Taylor was carried one final time by a full dress, precision honor guard from the hearse and brought to grave-side.
The setting could not have been more profoundly moving. Surrounded by gentle rolling fields and a pond sequestered off to one side that was lined with grand old oak trees, limbs dripping with moss reaching for the water's surface; the silence of the quiet cemetery was broken by the sharp crack of seven rifles firing in unison, three times each.
We waited until the family was presented with the carefully folded American flag and people began to leave, before mounting up. Riding slowly back down that gravel lane I reflected on the day and realized again what brought me here and to the PGR -- it was simply because "it was the right thing to do."
Mission Accomplished.
Kurt "VenturaCowboy" Mayer
Patriot Guard Riders
Kurt "VenturaCowboy" Mayer
National Director, Public Relations
Patriot Guard Riders
KD5FZV
"It ain't whatcha do but the way whatcha do it!"
21 Dec 2005 3:26 PM
Hardbite User is Offline
Posts: 870
Arizona
21 Dec 2005 3:18 PM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert
Great job guys and very well written!!!!
JohnnyD User is Offline
Posts: 319
PGR Handyman Cypress, TX
21 Dec 2005 6:00 PM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert
This story was in yesterday Houston Chronicle:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/tomball/news/3536316.html
The picture is when the flag was presented to the parents after taps and the 21 gun salute. It was very touching to experience.
JohnnyD
SE Texas PGR Coordinator, "The A Team" Lead Ride Captain
PGR member # 127 Unofficial PGR Publicist
All Houston area PGR members send me your contact info at: pgrrchouston@yahoo.com
Thank You to all who have served and are currently serving
Riding in memory of Spc Villianueva, Sgt Taylor, CWO Kenyon, CWO Garcia, Sgt. Taylor, SSgt Durbin, Pfc Tina Prest, Pfc Amy Duerksen, GSgt Fry, TSgt Walter Moss, Pfc Edwards, Lt Col Hanneman, SPC Latimer, Cpt Funkhouser, Sgt Ramirez, PGR Ride Captain George Griffith, Lt Cunningham, SSgt Pugh, SSgt Jenkins, Shane Goodman, L. Cpl Ryan Miller, HPD Office Johnson, SSgt Reynolds, Cpl Rosales, Pfc Hewitt, Cpl Luke Holler and Sgt. Mitchel T. Mutz and it is an honor to do so.
JohnnyD User is Offline
Posts: 319
PGR Handyman Cypress, TX
21 Dec 2005 6:13 PM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert
OBTY Just the hand shake the general gave to each of us as he thanked us for coming made the mission very satisfying. I felt like he was really thanking ALL PGR members for what we have done across the country.
JohnnyD
SE Texas PGR Coordinator, "The A Team" Lead Ride Captain
PGR member # 127 Unofficial PGR Publicist
All Houston area PGR members send me your contact info at: pgrrchouston@yahoo.com
Thank You to all who have served and are currently serving
Riding in memory of Spc Villianueva, Sgt Taylor, CWO Kenyon, CWO Garcia, Sgt. Taylor, SSgt Durbin, Pfc Tina Prest, Pfc Amy Duerksen, GSgt Fry, TSgt Walter Moss, Pfc Edwards, Lt Col Hanneman, SPC Latimer, Cpt Funkhouser, Sgt Ramirez, PGR Ride Captain George Griffith, Lt Cunningham, SSgt Pugh, SSgt Jenkins, Shane Goodman, L. Cpl Ryan Miller, HPD Office Johnson, SSgt Reynolds, Cpl Rosales, Pfc Hewitt, Cpl Luke Holler and Sgt. Mitchel T. Mutz and it is an honor to do so.
VenturaCowboy User is Offline
Posts: 545
Houston, TX
21 Dec 2005 8:52 PM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert
Oh yeah! Thanks JohnnyD. I had forgotten all about that. That was pretty special for me too. I thought it was neat that he took time to come over to us and say thank you.
Kurt "VenturaCowboy" Mayer
National Director, Public Relations
Patriot Guard Riders
KD5FZV
"It ain't whatcha do but the way whatcha do it!"
willprevale User is Offline
Posts: 1234
Ga.
21 Dec 2005 9:02 PM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert
Great write up Cowboy and good job.
It's amazing what can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.
For those who understand, no explanation is necessary and for those that don't... no explanation is possible.
phedup User is Offline
Posts: 840
21 Dec 2005 9:19 PM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert
Good job everyone!! Very well written Kurt.
Gold Wing Rider User is Offline
Posts: 20
Magnolia, Texas
22 Dec 2005 7:42 AM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert
Good account of the happenings, Cowboy. It was my first ride with the PGR and I can't think of any time that I was more proud. The handshake and the thank you from the General shows how much our support is appriciated.
"Never squat with your spurs on"
willprevale User is Offline
Posts: 1234
Ga.
22 Dec 2005 7:48 AM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert
As long as we continue to present ourselves in a dignified manner, we'll always be welcome. Have you ever observed the military honor guard? Those men are totally unflapable. Come hell, high water or protesters, they mainatin their stature and focus only on the task at hand.
Just a thought.
It's amazing what can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.
For those who understand, no explanation is necessary and for those that don't... no explanation is possible.
Twister User is Offline
Posts: 1645
Broken Arrow, OK
22 Dec 2005 8:47 PM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert
Hats off to all of you...Well Done. Kurt, great ride report. I knew Bonnie would be outstanding the first time she emailed me...my wife's name is Bonnie too.
Salute!
Jeff
"Scooter Sissy" ... What can Brown do for you?
TNT User is Offline
Posts: 179
Aloha/\Beaverton, Oregon
23 Dec 2005 9:57 AM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert
"THANX!" All PGR participants, and nice accounting "Cowboy" (Hope your feelin better by now).
TNT....O~`o____________________________________________________________
RESPECTz
TNT (HABU 67)
Aloha/\Beaverton, OR
USAF...............O~`o____________Retired-!! |
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Diane "Zippy" Anderson
PROUD Army Mom of SSgt Billy Myers 2nd Cavalry Stryker, Iraq
"...for those who man the battle line, the bugle whispers low, and freedom has a taste and price the protected never know..."
TOU Enforcement Agent
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