Ride Report:
Mission to honor Sgt. Brent Koch
Morton, Minnesota

Many of our members began their day hours before sunrise on Monday, June 26, 2006.  Our mission today was to honor Sgt. Brent Koch, age 22 of Morton, Minnesota.  Sgt. Brent Koch was born on October 7, 1983 and lost his life on June 16, 2006 in Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq.  Brent was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 136th Infantry Combined Arms Battalion.

Kevin Peterson, our Ride Captain In Charge of this mission opened the staging area at 7:30 AM.  By 8:10 AM 200 bikes were lined up and ready to roll.  With a police escort leading the way we rode the 13 miles from our staging area in Redwood Falls, Minnesota to the funeral services in Morgan, Minnesota.  The funeral service for Sgt Koch was held in the Morgan High School.

We arrived at the school one hour before the start of the funeral service, assembled our flags and took up positions lining the roadways to the entrance of the school.  Family and friends of Sgt. Brent Koch filled the small high school.  Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, several Army Generals, and senior Non Commissioned Officers were also in attendance.  We were told that a “Senior Official” from the White House would be in attendance, but we were unable to verify this.  The town had set up speakers outside the school so that we could listen to the service.

When the service was complete a military honor guard emerged from the school.  Our 200 members of the Patriot Guard Riders had formed a large semi-circle in the parking lot where the hearse was parked.  Soon the family, friends and quests came out of the school, followed by the casket bearing Sgt. Brent Koch.  All came to attention and either rendered a salute or placed their right hand over their heart as Sgt. Koch was placed in the hearse.  The sounds of a bagpipe playing Amazing Grace echoed through the small town, and tears flowed freely.  Three white doves were released, the fist two took flight. The third white dove made one circle over the assembled crowd and returned to land on the roof of the school directly above the doors that Sgt. Koch had just passed through. It was as if through the eyes of that dove, Sgt. Koch could see his family and friends all surrounded by a field of red, white, and blue, all there to honor him and say good bye.

After an hour break for the family to have lunch we began the second phase of our mission.  We had the honor of accompanying Sgt. Koch, his family and friends to the grave side service in Trimont, Minnesota; a 60 mile ride.  The funeral cortege stretched for over two miles, passing through farm fields and small Minnesota towns.  During that 60 mile ride there was never a time when I did not see some one standing at the side of the road holding an American flag, a bouquet of flowers or simply standing at attention as we rode by.  As we passed through Sleepy Eye, St. James and Trimont, people lined the streets to pay their respects to Sgt. Koch.  It was one of the most moving events I have ever witnessed.  Businesses were closed to allow their employees to line the street.  Nursing home residents lined the street. Mothers with their kids lined the streets.  Kids at a public swimming pool stood quietly and respectfully as we passed.  Fire trucks, police cars and ambulances lined the route with their lights flashing.  Even with two hundred biked thundering through town the silence was overwhelming.  Yellow ribbons were tied to every tree, and American flags flew proudly everywhere.

When the funeral cortege arrived at the cemetery, we quickly parked and assembled our flags.  Guard riders formed a perimeter around the family and guests, the military and American Legion Honor Guard.  It was our chance to protect and watch over them, to watch their backs as they prayed, and rendered full military honors to Sgt. Koch with a twenty one gun salute and the playing of taps.

We held our formation for five minutes after the service had ended.  Darkening clouds threatened rain, and the two hundred members of the Patriot Guard quietly left the cemetery, thus concluding this mission.

I wish to thank Kevin Peterson who worked so hard to plan and execute this mission.  My thanks to George Winslow for all the help he provided.  And thank you to the hundreds of PGR members, many who used precious vacation, or took the day with out pay, to honor Sgt. Koch.

To the thousands of citizens who lined the roads, fields, and small towns of South West Minnesota to pay your respects to and honor Sgt. Brent Koch, you have reaffirmed my faith in the American spirit.  Thank you.

Respectfully submitted,

Thomas D. Weller

Minnesota Ride Captain

Patriot Guard Riders