Pfc Tina Priest, Smithville Texas. Mission Complete

If I had to sum up today in one word, it would be PROUD. The Austin 10 plus one cage arrived at the VFW and found a few riders had already arrived. It was about 8:45a and I knew we were early so I wasn’t too worried about the turnout. Shortly after 9a, they started coming. And they kept coming. And coming. By the time everyone was staged, we had 73 bikes, at least 5 cages and a total of 80 Patriot Guard Members who had come from as far and near to pay their respects to Pfc Tina Priest.

The local police department arrived and coordinated with us for a staging point in town and how were to take the ride. At DoubleD’s suggestion and with everyone’s approval, we had 8 bikes with the largest American flags lead us to our staging point. After parking the bikes, we walked to the church where we lined up two deep in front of the church and stood, waiting for the services to end. As people started coming out, I could see them stop and look at us, taking in the sight of all these strangers, standing proud and respectful. As Pfc Priest’s coffin was brought outside, MasterChief called a hearty "Patriot Guards, Attention!" and we all snapped to attention. Then on MasterChief’s command, we all saluted……standing tall and silent as they loaded the coffin into the hearse.

Our 8 big-flag bikes led the procession through town and out to the cemetery with the remaining bikes falling in at the end. We made the two mile trek out to the cemetery, parked our bikes and cages and lined up, again 2 deep, out in the area behind the coffin. We were too far from the services to hear but I did hear General Campbell speak to the people gathered about "and all these bikes". Other than that, all I could hear were birds and the snapping of our flags in the wind. 21 gun salute, taps……I think there were a lot of wet PGR eyes by the time it was over.

After the graveside, the family came up and thanked all of us for being there. General Campbell came up and spent about 10 minutes talking with us, meeting some of our Vets and thanking us for being good American Patriots. THAT was a very special moment for all of us. One of the funeral directors came up and told us that Smithville is having a festival in late April. Pfc Priest’s twin sister is going to lead a riderless horse in the procession and the family asked if we would join them because they were so impressed with us. (More details on this date are being gathered).

After the graveside services, several of us went back to the church at the invitation of the family to join them at the reception. Food, drink, family, Patriots…..that’s the ingredients for a special time. While we were standing outside the church earlier waiting for the services to conclude, I watched the people exiting the church and I saw one woman walk out, stop dead in her tracks, look as us lined up outside and she broke down crying. At the reception, I met the same lady. She said that the sight of all of us standing there with the flags snapping in the wind was simply overwhelming. I told her it’s what PGR does to show our support and to let the family know that Americans DO still love America. She said, "Tina was a good American. She would have been happy to have seen this". Then we looked at one another and said together, "She did see it".

This is yet another Mission I will never forget. I told many of the new riders, "If this is your first Mission, it won’t be your last". The emotions and feelings of Patriotism are habit forming. I was assured by all, they’d be available again.

Pfc Tina Priest, rest in peace. You will never be forgotten and the Patriot Guard Riders made damn sure of that today.

I was going to say a special thanks to the members who helped out with this Mission, but I don’t know all 79 of your names. It was you that made this Mission what it was. To each and every one of you, Thank You from the deepest recesses of my heart. Also a huge Thank You to the Smithville Police Department for working with us and helping make this Mission a success. Folks, as I type this, my throat’s getting tight and my eyes are getting wet. It’s these things that make these Missions worth the effort.

Until next time, BexarWolf signing off.