|
|
To Request
Our Services
|
 |
|
Please contact your State Captain for all mission requests, except for Arlington National Cemetery(ANC). Your State Captain, the ANC team, Moderators, and Contact teams, may be contacted through the following links.
State Captains
PGR ANC Team
Moderators
Contact PGR
|
|
|
|
Directory
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patriot Guard Riders Forum
|
|
|
| You are not authorized to post a reply.
|
|
| Author |
Messages |
|
jim.lavender 
Posts: 39
Logansport In.
 |
| 18 Oct 2007 9:55 PM |
 Alert
|
Fair winds and following seas "Grit". May the good Lord be with you, and your family in thier time of need. I'll be keeping you all in my prayers and will stand with you in spirit.
Sincerly,
Jim |
|
Jim "SSG" Lavender |
|
|
milktoast
Posts: 3622
West Branch, MI Zephyrhills, FL
|
| 20 Oct 2007 7:19 AM |
Alert
|
| My heartfelt condolences and prayers to the family and friends of veteran Arne Griffin. I thank this hero for his service. Rest in peace, sir. |
|
Janet Toth
Michigan Ride Captain
Florida Senior Ride Captain
Proud wife, daughter, daughter-in-law of vets from Vietnam, Korea, and WWII
Totally directionally challenged
"To share often and much...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
|
|
henkej
Posts: 5
Tucson, AZ
|
| 20 Oct 2007 9:53 PM |
Alert
|
Thank you for your service, Shipmate. You were a good and true friend. Your family is in our thoughts during this trying time. Know that I will be riding with you in my heart, but I cannot be there in person. Our Shipmates will carry the flag in tribute to you well.
Jon Henke
CTTCM USN (RET)
Diana Henke
|
|
|
|
|
mholiver
Posts: 739
Metairie, Louisiana
suburb of
Ole Nawlins'
New Orleans
Ride Captain
Louisiana
HOTH Coordinator
|
| 22 Oct 2007 11:20 AM |
Alert
|
Thank you Chief Griffin for your service and efforts for the freedoms we all enjoy in our great country. I and my family offer our support and prayers for your family during this time of mourning, loss, and adjustment. May the Good Lord place his Loving Arms around each of you and you feel His Peace, Love, and Comfort in the days ahead.
Rest in Peace Sailor; we now have the watch. |
|
"Mike" Oliver
USN P-3 Airdale 1980-86
Riding in memory of my Dad and Hero, Herb Oliver
Army Medic, Pacific Theater, WWII
and in memory of Mike Bares & Tommy Tomkatz Poss
'04 Yamaha FJR 1300 "Isabella"
I'm so reminded of James Michener's quote
from his book, and later from the movie,
"The Bridges at Toko-Ri":
"Where do we find these men?"
Louisiana Red, White, & Blue Book Coordinator
|
|
|
Crippie
Posts: 507
Colorado Springs, CO
|
| 22 Oct 2007 11:46 AM |
Alert
|
| A final note to everyone, on behalf of Arne, the Family, and myself.....
Huge thanks go out to everyone for their emails in support, and condolences, for the Griffin Family. A true tribute to Arne's most significant contribution to a very many lives throughout the world. Leslie, Tanya, Nikki, Grits immediate and extended Family send their Heart-Felt Thanks to everyone.
The Wake, Service, and Grave Side Ceremony were a fine remembrance for Arne, and well attended by many Family, Friends, Co-workers, and Acquaintances - many traveling great distances for a final farewell, and best wishes to Grit for a smooth journey forward and upward.
Jack Rodgers delivered a beautiful and most excellent eulogy for Arne, recounting only a very few of his many attributes and some of his "finer moments" - one being Arne's attempt to "create a souvenir" by "Flattening" a zinc 1/2-inch washer (similar to flattening a Penny on a railroad track) on the rail of the 150-foot (mega ton) antenna, in Sugar Grove, West Virginia. To Arne's amazement, the slow moving antenna rolled up to the washer, hesitated momentarily, and they rolled up onto the washer... To Arne's greater amazement, the antenna roller dropped into the center of the washed, and wouldn't budge from the concaved circumference of the inner washer "hole"... This, I believe - by Arne's many re-tellings of the story - was the highlight of Arne's "Oh, SHITTERS" in the Navy - a true example of the scariest words any Sailor has ever spoken.... ..."here, hold my beer, and watch this shit !!"... The Base had to rent a crane from the nearby town of Brandywine, BUT due to clearance issues, the crane couldn't approach the Base from town, and had to drive "Around the Mountain" to get to the Base - many miles difference. Arne's quiet demeanor and delivery of his frequent, yet ever present, "dry humor" were reflected to the ump-tenth-degree by Jack. Thank You, Jack, for assisting Leslie and Nikki in their travel arrangements and ride to the airport, acting as Leslie's advocate with the Company and for interacting on her behalf, for traveling down to Mississippi for Arne and the Family, and for being such a great Friend and Shipmate to Arne. There really aren't enough ways to say Thanks...
Before closing the coffin, Arne was given many of the "comfort" items he'd become well known for, and always having within reach... Some Coke, Kit-Kats, Snickers, a pencil with erasers on both ends, and - naturally - some of his beloved "New Orleans Saints" mementos. Visitors and Guests were also afforded "Complimentary" Kit-Kats next to the Guest Book in the Funeral Home.
The Service was delivered by the Pastor - Terri Stagner-Collier - of the Church - Christus Victor Lutheran Church - that Arne's Family helped Establish generations ago. The Readings, Devotions and Songs were interactive with the Congregation participating. Arne's Daughter, Nikki, played several beautiful pieces of music on her "Psaltery" - which is a multi-stringed instrument that is played with a bow - that Arne got for her. The Congregation also sang some versus from the Hymn we all became very familiar with in the Navy, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save".
Folks attending Arne's Service were Greeted by an Honor Guard Flag Line at the entrance of the Funeral Home, provided by the Mississippi Chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders (www.PatriotGuard.Org) - who provided a continuous presence at the Funeral Home, provided Pall Bearers for Arne at the Funeral Home, and also provided a Motorcycle Escort - about 20 - 30 Bikes - for the Funeral Procession to the Cemetery. A very special Thanks to "Ed Baker - Mississippi State Captain, Patriot Guard Riders" - for their support and "RIDING WITH RESPECT". Also, an extended Special Thanks to Lloyd "Red" Frasier, for "Scooting" over to Ocean Springs from Pensacola, FL., as the sole representative of the Florida Chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders, Standing the Flag Line, being a Pall Bearer, Riding Escort, and also STANDING TALL AND PROUD IN HONOR OF ARNE, as His Friend and Shipmate of many years. The "Dixie Patriot Guard Riders" ROCK !!! The Ocean Springs Police Department provided excellent traffic control for a smooth trip of the procession from the Funeral Home to the Cemetery. At the cemetery, the Patriot Guard formed a Flag Line Gauntlet for Arne's path to his Resting Place, and then surrounded the Family and Friends with the Flag Line for the Interment. The U.S. Navy Honor Guard Performed the Duties of Pawl Bearers, Flag Folding and Presentation to Leslie, 21-Gun Honor Salute, and Bugling of Taps - all in a Crisp, Sharp and Flawless manner. Arne was sent on his way, in the best Tradition of the U.S. Navy, and with all the Honor and Respect we could muster. A fitting send off, but still lacking in comparison to what Arne gave to his Family, Friends, the Navy and the world we walk. His loss will be felt by a great many, but HE WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN - and he was undoubtedly greeted and folded into the open arms by many who have passed before. Don't be surprised if, and when, Arne makes his presence known to you, as he watches over us and gives us his little mischievous signs of "Being Happy and Well". Also, don't be surprised should the "Saints" have a stellar year, in the near future, in spite of Archie Manning going to the Vikings - a Grudge Arne holds strongly !!
Thank You, all, for your caring and warm words of support, encouragement, and shared grief, over Arne's Passing. Now, is the time to reflect on the Happy and Good times you've been fortunate enough to share with Grit, and a time for healing the broken hearts from Arne's departure from this World.
Everyone, Be Happy, Healthy, Safe and Have Fun............
........remember, there's no dress rehearsal for life..... Have as MUCH FUN as you can STAND !!.......
and, in Arne's words, ..."don't hurt 'cher-self".......
Hugs-'n-stuff.......
Ronnie......
|
|
In GOD We TRUST,
ALL OTHERS We MONITOR
(but, we're still lookin for HIS freq.) |
|
|
mcqueary
Posts: 1
|
| 22 Oct 2007 2:01 PM |
Alert
|
Thanks for all the details on Arne's services. I didn't find out about Grit's passing until the day after the funeral.
I will really miss Grit. I haven't seen him face to face in several years but we exchanged emails a few times recently. He was really looking forward to finally retiring to "the old homestead" last I heard from him. Reading the message above gave me a chuckle -- Grit's USN service and mine didn't overlap, but Grit and I shared a cubicle area at NRL for a few years, so I got to hear a lot of the 'Oh SHIT" stories -- he had tons of 'em. He had flawless delivery, too. Reels you in, gets you up the point that things go wrong... pause ... "OH SHIT!" and then that unique laugh of his. He was an animated storyteller.
I think some people who didn't know him well took him as a "simple" Southerner, a crusty old retired Chief (OK, this was somewhat true, ha), or various other stereotypes. I know I did when I first met him circa 1990. But behind that southern drawl and handlebar mustache was one of smartest men I've known, with a very dry wit (as alluded to above) who would frequently catch you off guard with a joke (most often at your expense).
I am glad to hear he had such a wonderful sendoff, and that Red and Jack were able to make it out to pay tribute. Thanks again for re-telling the details, Ronnie.
Rest in peace, Grit.
-Larry |
|
|
|
|
Crippie
Posts: 507
Colorado Springs, CO
|
| 23 Oct 2007 9:05 PM |
Alert
|
| .... Message From Betty Griffin, Arne's Older Sister (by 523-days)....... - - - PGR........ Thank you for such a send off for my brother. Remarks I have heard have all been positive. My son-in-law now wants to sell his car to buy a bike so he can join the ranks of those who support the protectors of our freedom and country. I would recommend asking you to any send off I hear of. It was so great to see the people pull to the side of the road or stop. I have always seen this happen but not to the extent of Arne's procession. May all know how much I know he appreciated it. Plus his family!!!! Again thank you all so much. Betty Griffin Madison (BetMadison@aol.com) , sister of Arne McRae Griffin CTTC/USN (retired)
|
|
In GOD We TRUST,
ALL OTHERS We MONITOR
(but, we're still lookin for HIS freq.) |
|
|
|
| You are not authorized to post a reply. |
|
|
|
ActiveForums 3.6
|
|
|
|