A MISSION BY THE NUMBERS
1 - God does bless AMERICA
0330 - Hours, was the departure time for a group of riders and a cage leaving Lacey WA for the 7-1/2 hour trip to Pasco.
30 - A wild guess of the number of bikes at the staging site at 0900 when I arrived, so much for my hope of a leisurely breakfast and time to prepare for rides/cages to start arriving.
23 - Pages of signatures collected for me on the sign in sheets by Jeff of Redmond, Thanks for taking on that task Jeff, I really needed that help.
125 - A count of bikes on site reported to me at about 0945…still an hour and 15 minutes before the “Scheduled” start of the ride briefing..( I should have know at this point the Schedule might adjust itself)
8 - Generous PGR supporters who were willing to give up their ride for the weekend, so that Sgt. Pfisters uncle “Knuckles” a member of the Booze Fighters MC who had flown up from California would be able to ride.
247 - Count of bikes at 1015, still 45 minutes and more roaring in each minute.
0 - the number of other “ride captains” I have found for support by this time, but I knew they would show and come through for us.
392 - Bike count reported just before the ride briefing was to start
8-10 Ride Captains and Support Vehicle drivers who stepped up to assist in and orderly departure from the Staging Area and orderly arrival at the Memorial service. Thank you all, and a special thanks to SSgt. Bam!! Oregon State PGR Captain for taking charge of organizing the Flag Line so that Cowboy and I could attend to other matters.
1 - PGR member whose bike was ridden by Knuckles, who forgot to take the keys with him when he left his “cage” at the staging area…apparently you cant lock your keys in a bike.(Sorry Dave…but that had to be in here)
2 - Other relatives of Sgt. Pfister, Uncle Steve and Aunt Kathy, who also showed up on their own bikes to ride with us.
3 - (2 Uncles and an Aunt) we were honored to have ride with us, and were able to provide them positions in the missing man formation leading the procession.
4 - Limo’s bearing family members who joined us at the staging area for the procession to the service, along with another half dozen or so other vehicles with closer friends. It was a great honor that the family thought so highly of us that they wanted to be a part of our procession.
5 - Minutes It took Cowboy and I to locate each other among the crowd in the parking lot at the truck stop while talking to each on cell phones.
Too many to count - People with Flags lining both sides of at least ½ mile of the road leading to the service site, many of us were having trouble with our glasses and visors miss functioning around this time. Shoulder to Shoulder they stood, as the road narrowed, the flags almost brushed our arms as we rode through, the tunnel seemed it would never end. They say a picture says a thousand words, look some of the links and you will agree.
100’s- Of other supporters who followed the PGR lead and turned their backs to the distraction on Burden Blvd. And their faces to the
2 - Huge American Flags…reportedly 50 feet long, one flown from 2 Fire Dept. Ladder Trucks and the other from a large Crane, and the hundreds of smaller flags lining the entrance road to the memorial.
2 - State Captains Cowboy (WA) and SSgt. Bam!! (OR) who traveled many miles and hours to support our local members. Thank you is not enough for what you 2 do in leading and assisting us at the local level all across the Northwest.
15 - Estimated minutes it took for the procession to depart from the Staging Site, from the first vehicle to the last.
Unlimited – Support from various riding groups. Booze Fighters MC (Thanks again Knuckles for the honor) Legacy and Vietnam Vets, Combat Vets, Intl., OVMA, Marines MC, Star Touring, Blue Knights, Desert Thunder, GWRRA, PNW Riders, Americal Legion Riders, Spokane 243, Christian Motorcycle Association, thank you all, I’m sure that I may have missed some others as well, If anyone knows let me know. We thank you all for riding with us, and supporting the Pfister family. Every one did a great job, and it certainly was above and beyond my wildest expectations.
5 - at least States represented on this mission (WA, ID, CA, OR, NV)(If I missed any let me know, and I’ll edit the report)
432 - Bikes who rode with the PGR as counted by a PGR member after a recount at the site of the memorial service. This does not include an additional 25 – 30 support vehicles and other cages.
Several – Family members and close friends who thanked us sincerely when Cowboy and I were escorted into the Family waiting room by Gunny Solarzano to meet with the Family. Richard (Sgt. Pfisters Father), Lori (Sgt. Pfisters mother) and Karen Zepp (Jessica Pfisters mother) greeted us and looked on as we presented Jessica with the PGR Plaque honoring the remembrance of Travis. Jessica commented “He wouldn’t have wanted to go our any other way” as he was in the process of helping wounded comrades.
600 - Total bikes at the memorial service according to the Pasco PD Count.
3000 - or more Patriotic Americans who gave a mere few hours to honor Travis Pfister who gave his life for the freedom we cherish
3 - Local TV Stations that from what I saw focused on what the day was really about - Honoring Sgt. Pfister, and respecting his family as they reflected on his life and dealt with his loss.
21 - Gun Salute, honoring the Life of Sgt. Pfister
1 - Bugler playing Taps
3 - Uncles and Aunt who remounted their bikes after the service
A COUPLE OF HUNDRED
Flag bearers who waited throughout the service, and for the family to begin to depart, who clapped and cheered as
1 - Jessica Pfister climbed on the back of Uncle Knuckles bike and joined Aunt Kathy and Uncle Steve in leading the family home from the service….
To Jessica, Lori, Richard, and the rest of the Pfister extended family, our prayers are with you, we grieve with you for your lost Son and Husband, and will remember Sgt. Travis D. Pfister as a HERO forever in our hearts.
1 - God does bless AMERICA
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