Mission Ride Report

Sgt. Daniel Sesker

Ogden, Iowa

What do you say? What can you say when a decorated, combat veteran in full dress uniform goes out of his way to shake your hand and say “Thank you”? What do you do when you look into the tear filled eyes of a mother,,,a wife,,,or a sister and hear a faint crackle in her voice as she says “God Bless you for being here”? Few situations in life leave me at a total loss for words. Today was one of those days.

Sergeant Daniel Sesker, age 22, of Ogden, Iowa was killed in action by a roadside bomb in Baghdad, Iraq on April 6^th, 2006. Sgt. Sesker was serving with Troop C, 1^- 113^th Cavalry, an Iowa Army National Guard unit. “Stubby” as he was known to family and friends, served as lead gunner conducting convoy security missions. He placed himself in the most exposed and dangerous positions possible and would not accept other placements offering more personal safety. A veteran of both Kosovo and Iraq, Sesker was the most experienced and best trained soldier for the job taking great pride in his work. Sesker’s fellow Cavalrymen, some of whom returned home to speak at his funeral, held him in the highest regards. They reflected on how his pride, professionalism, love of family and friends was a source of great comfort and inspiration to them. His sense of  duty carried beyond his military service into his place in the  community as well. He was a counselor at the Woodward Academy, worked with the Gowrie Police Dept. and was studying to become a police officer. One of the best memories of him is a  toast he liked to make while sharing a drink with them; “To us,,,,To men like us!,,,,Damn few left”

The day Daniel Sesker was laid to rest began with a cool 39 degrees, overcast skies and a strong easterly wind. This weather is not exactly conducive to riding a motorcycle any great distance. Yet, riders from as far away as Nebraska and central Minnesota braved the elements to pay their respects to this fallen soldier and his family. Besides love of country and the firm understanding that freedom is not free, the Patriot Guard Riders carry an additional motivator in their hearts to help keep them pushing onward.

An unfortunate byproduct of our First Amendment right to free speech is organizations such as the Westboro Baptist “Church” in Topeka, KS. They are an anti-gay extremist group whose hate filled message is not fit for print here. Their mission is to disrupt military funerals through out the country and receive funding through lawsuits generated by conflicts with grieving family’s, veterans, law enforcement, and anyone connected with the fallen hero’s proceedings. This is where the Patriot Guard Rider’s become active.

First and foremost, it is very important to understand that the PGR is NOT, under any circumstances, a counter-protest group. The PGR’s mission statement reads clearly as follows; “Our mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives; 1. To show sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families and their communities. 2. To shield the mourning family and friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors. This is accomplished through strictly legal and non-violent means.”

The PGR successfully completed this mission on April 18^th, 2006 at the Ogden High School in Ogden, Iowa. Two key aspects contributed to this success. 1) Strict compliance with laws, family requests and the PGR’s mission statement by Keith Calloway (Iowa’s PGR road captain) and all PGR members in attendance. 2) A very recent Iowa law restricting the disruption of funeral proceedings. Monday morning, while on a trip to Afghanistan, Gov. Tom Vilsac was awakened to sign a bill into law helping to shield the families of service members such as Sesker’s. This law was effective immediately making it a crime to disrupt funeral proceedings and stated that protestors must be kept a minimum of 500 feet from the funeral. Ogden police chief Mick Bailey carefully placed what few protestors there were on a sidewalk within eyesight of the Ogden High School, yet 530 feet from the entrance to the building. Chief Bailey personally stood guard to ensure the protestors did not wonder outside their boundaries while enduring the disgusting messages on  their signs. Great job Chief Bailey!

When the services came to a close, Sesker was brought out of the school. An honor guard of soldiers in full dress green uniforms with Cavalrymen proudly wearing the famous black “Stetson” hats, slowly loaded the casket into the hearse. While the rest of the honor guard stood at attention, white-gloved hands rendering the sharpest of hand salutes, more than 90 Patriot Guard Riders stood in formation just behind the troops. In the front rank of the PGR each person held an American flag crisply snapping in the Iowa wind honoring those who have fallen and those who will carry on.

The hearse was closed. The soldiers were detached to their vehicles and the PGR to their bikes for the procession to Linwood Park Cemetery in Boone. With close coordination between the PGR, law enforcement, family and other officials the long procession got underway. A “missing man” formation was formed at the front of the PGR bikes included the father of a soldier currently deployed in Iraq. This soldier is also a Cavalryman in Sesker’s unit.

By now, the sun was shining between clouds, but flags still snapped in the wind as over 60 motorcycles took their place just behind the law enforcement vehicles, followed by a fire truck, the family, hearse and the rest of the procession. Two PGR members remained behind to render honors to the family and Sgt. Sesker as they departed the area.

Requests were made for the graveside service to be attended by family only. This was honored by the PGR and others as they simply continued onward past the cemetery entrance. Many people rode on to the VA facilities in Des Moines to pay tribute there as well. Apparently, it is not enough to dis-honor the families and memories of fallen heroes. This protest group now seems to feel the need to go after our wounded as they recover. More will be reported on this later as information becomes available.

When the crowds diminished, vehicles and bikes were gone, the parking lot of the Ogden High School was once again quiet. The American and Iowa flags were still at half-mast and school was still in session. Just like in many small towns across Iowa and the nation, there was a sense of calmness and peaceful pride. Most PGR members, when thanked by the family, friends and soldiers, responded with something like “it is my honor”. As I look around to see farmers planting the fields, small country stores conducting business and people going about their daily lives, all I can say to those who thanked me today is “Thank YOU!”

Ride safe.

                                                                                                      Preach.

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