Yesterday Vern and I left the house at 5:30am got home around 7:30pm...did stop and eat on the way home, last 20 miles was in sleet and snow...not slick, but glad we ran into it so close to home.

This was "way over there"  for us and I was able to meet some PGR members from the Kansas City area....I also had some left over Wreaths Across America Pins that I gave to PGR members who worked the program in that area. There was also quite a few new PGR members there too. Like us and our memories of the "Page Mission" you'll never forget your first mission...as time passes it won't be the cold you'll recall, it will be the warmth of a task at hand that stole your heart and your conviction that you had joined the best group of folks EVER!!! and that what you did on that cold day in Janurary 2008 will bond you with a whole new family.

Some 82 PGR members and AL riders stood the flag lines in VERY COLD temps yesterday. They hammered into the frozen ground and staked out flags surrounding the funeral home. Then we set two flag lines with people. Soliders Angels had a van set up for us with coffee and we had coffee and snacks for us inside to enjoy while we warmed up. Upon arrival we were asked to show our respects inside if we wanted too. I did.

There is much to do on these missions for the ride captains. Besides setting the flags and
advising everyone what we would be doing per
requests of the family, we do  sometimes get to show
our respects inside, not just show up and silently stand with our own thoughts outside. I think that's where it all comes home to me as a PGR rider. Inside there was tons of photos of the young 22 yr old hero. From his childhood days,  to school times,  to him with friends, family and pics of his military days...but it was his high school letter jacket laying on a table that hit me hard...maybe cause I'm a mom...but, it made me think...to us he's a hero, but to his family, he's their son, their brother...who not so long ago was a carefree lanky kid in high school, then grew up real fast as an American Solider defending our freedoms.  

Later, outside, I'd  made the rounds up and down the flag lines talking to new faces and old friends, taking their flag so they could get coffee, hit the bathrooms or as some do, just to take a moment to step away and regroup their thoughts. Some of the big tough ol warriors standing the flag lines have a hard time. When I see them lock tearful eyes with me and nod, I walk over, pat them on the back, nod back and say, "take a break brother"...and they walk away quietly.

PGR Missions are not a social event for us in the PGR...we have a job to do. (We can socialize at other functions.)  And as is part of our job, to shield the familys from the "uglys" sure came into play ...for ol Shirley Phelps herself showed up with her group to protest...They set up
just over the embankment of the funeral home driveway. ...at one point their chanting and yelling got too loud..members on the flag line closest to the front door of the funeral home could hear them...I saw Vern, Eric and Sheri motion to quickly but quietly move the flag line...they put a long line of people and flags shoulder to shoulder tight between them and the driveway...to shield the mourners comming in from seeing them...I found a PGR member who had several CD's of bag pipe music...I had him move his vehicle over and play the music LOUD...to drown out their ugly comments and singing....it worked too. He opened up both his doors and then stood there grinning.

We left 12 members at the door to stand in attention when the hero was brought out by the
Army's Military Burial Detail Unit. The rest of us formed two lines and walked with our flags through the winding lane of the snowy cemetary. We again formed two lines for the family to drive through.  I spent several moments talking to Sandy Deraps. It's been some time now sense she lost her son to this war, but the pain is fresh to her and I always seek her out when I see her on a flag line and wish her well and remind her we are all STILL there for her and her family.....Our Gold Star familys mean a great deal to me. ...and mother to mother my heart breaks for her. 

As you look at the pics, you'll find none of the family or the casket...Young men and women that we stand for may be "OUR" heros, but they are someones child and I respect their privacy when I take PGR photos.


-Hollie