update 18 Sept 07 1832cdt Aranel
 

Final Itinerary for Sgt Omar Mora 28, Texas City, TX, Escort Home Thursday 20 Sept 07, Services Saturday 22 Sept 07   These are the final PGR itineraries for the escort home and services for Sgt Omar Mora, who gave all for you and me.  This mission is a GO all contacts have been made.  Our objective is to help provide a fitting send off for this American Hero.  Let's have a big turn out to honor the latest fallen hero from our area.     ____________________________________________________________   Escort Home Information for Sgt Omar Mora Thursday the 20th ___________________________________________________________   Sgt Mora's parents were at the escort home for Spc. Micheal Jaurique back in June.  Sadly we now will be escorting their son home.  Mr. Jaurique will be joins us on this mission.  If you have been on an escort home from Galveston you know the police will shut down all the roads for the escort to Texas City.  I also understand we will travel down the seawall as we have on past escorts home from Galveston.  Sgt Mora's plane is due in at 1105.    Date:  Thursday Sept 20th   Staging Time:   0945-1020   Riders Meeting:  1020 KSU:   1030   Staging Location: Schlitterbahn Island Park in the over flow parking lot across from the park.  It is closed during the week and is right next to the airport.   2109 Lockheed Rd, Galveston, TX 77554 maps.google.com map   >   Ride Captains: John Darner (JohnnyD)             pgrrchouston@yahoo.com        cell: 713-817-8112 Mike Williams (Captain Mike)      WILFLOWTX@aol.com           cell: 409-256-7757   Escort destination: Emken Linton Funeral Home 5100 Emmett F Lowry Expy, Texas City, TX 77591 maps.google.com _________________________________________________________   Final Services  Information for Sgt Omar Mora Saturday the 22th ____________________________________________________________     Services for Sgt Omar Mora will be at St. Mary's Catholic Church and will start at 1000.  We will set up our flag line at one hour before the services at the church.  Once the services have started we will send a forward advance support team (FAST) comprised of our non flag bikes with our flags to the c emetery, we except to have a police escort.  FAST will set up the flag line at the cemetery. Flag bikes (bikes with large flags) will remain at the church and will be in the procession from the church to the cemetery.        Please join us as we Stand Tall & Silent honoring Sgt Omar Mora, his family and community. Bring a friend with you who has never attended a PGR mission, they will thank you afterward.   As this mission is on a Saturday let's have a huge turn out.   Date: Saturday the 22nd   Staging Area : Stingaree Stadium 1800 9th Ave N Texas City, TX 77590 Direction from I-45 N or S take the 1764 (Mall of the Mainland exit) and travel east 1764 turns into Palmer Hwy and the 9th street, distance about 5 miles, Stadium is on the right    Map: Stingaree Stadium   Staging Time : 0800 to 08:40 Riders meeting 08:40 KSU 08:50AM   It will only take few minutes to get to the church   We need 6 Flag Bikes at the staging area early to escort the family to the funeral home and then to the church. They need to arrive at 0800 to depart at 08:30.  As we only need 6 flag bike please contact Captain Mike if you wish to do this escort. One RC's will be need for the family escort.   Services: St. Mary's Catholic Church 724-3rd Ave North Texas City    Service Time 10:00 - 11:15   Burial will follow at Forest Part South Cemetery with full military honors.   Ride Captains: John Darner (JohnnyD)             pgrrchouston@yahoo.com          Mike Williams (Captain Mike)      WILFLOWTX@aol.com             Weather (Cool in the morning, Hot in the afternoon )  Low: 71  °F  High: 93 °F RealFeel®: 95 °F Partly sunny with a thunderstorm possible   Hot weather tips: http://www.setexaspgr.com/Safety.htm Please start to hydrate the day before (drink as much water as you can) and stay hydrated during the mission.  Eat something in the morning. We will have water and understand the American Red Cross will also provide water for the escort and services.   Thank you for all you do, JohnnyD Deputy State Captain, Republic of Texas ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Updated 17 Sept 07 ~ 1408cdt ~ oldiron  ****Mission Update***** Sgt Omar Mora is tentatively scheduled to come home on Thursday to Galveston AP. No time yet, we may not get that till Wednesday. We will stage at the Schlitterbahn an hour before his arrival. If you have ever been on an escort home from Scholes International Airport at Galveston you know the cooperation and respect shown by the airport staff and the local police departments is as good as it gets. Services will be Saturday and we hope this will allow for a huge turn out to honor Sgt. Mora. Services will be at St. Marys in Texas City at 1000 with burial services at Forrest Park Cemetery. Have have stood for our fallen heroes at both this church and cemetery before. A final itinerary will be released when we have a firm time on when Omar is coming home. Please stand ready to honor Sgt Mora, his family and his community. JohnnyD   John Darner (AKA JohnnyD) Patriot Guard Riders  Deputy State Captain Texas   SE Texas PGR Web Site for Current Mission Info www.setexaspgr.org PGR National Web Site: http://www.patriotguard.org/      ABC News on SE Texas and what we do   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ updated 13 Sept 07 ~ 2025cdt ~ oldiron Sgt. Omar Mora was on the tail end of his second tour of duty and was schedule to come home in November from his 15 month tour. When returning from a night mission the vehicle Omar was in went off the road and he and six other soldiers along with two detainees were tragically killed. Like many young Americans, Sgt. Mora joined the army after 9-11 in a sense of duty to country. He was promoted to Sgt in three years and wanted to join special forces. Omar came to the US when he as 2 years old and is classified as a permanent legal resident, to join special forces you have to be a citizen. Two weeks ago Sgt. Mora received his citizenship papers and was to sworn in as a citizen when he came home in November. Sgt. Mora leaves behind a wife and 5 year old daughter, a brother an sister and his parents. There is a lot of press reports going on about Sgt Mora and the Op-Ed story he and 7 other deployed Sgts wrote for the NY Times. Some say it was critical of the war and is a tool for the left. Other say it was 7 soldiers trying to get out what they have experiences on their tour, freedom of speech, a right they have defended. Please understand this, none of this Op-Ed story or the media frenzy matters to the PGR. This hero served two tours proudly serving his country. We will be there to honor him, his family and community when he comes home. This is what we do, we have no political stance, we stand for the those who stood for us. Sgt Mora arrived at Dover last night. As of right now we do not know when he will be coming home or when his services will be. Please continue to stand ready to honor this fallen hero from our area. JohnnyD

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updated 12 Sept 07 ~ 1609cdt ~ oldiron

 The family has requested the PGR attend the services of Sgt. Mora.  Details of the mission will be posted as soon as they have been developed.

John Darner (AKA JohnnyD)
Patriot Guard Riders 
Deputy State Captain Texas

SE Texas PGR Web Site for Current Mission Info www.setexaspgr.org

PGR National Web Site: http://www.patriotguard.org/   

ABC News on SE Texas and what we do ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sgt. Omar Mora, 28, of Texas City, TX. died Monday in a vehicle accident in western Baghdad,  Sgt. Mora was assigned to the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.

A legal permanent resident in the United States, Mora wanted to join the Army Special Forces, which requires citizenship. He received his citizenship papers a few weeks ago.

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE

No. 1114-07 September 13, 2007

DoD Identifies Army Casualties The Department of Defense announced today the death of seven soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Sept. 10 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related vehicle rollover. They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.   Killed were:   Staff Sgt. Yance T. Gray, 26, of Ismay, Mont.   Staff Sgt. Gregory Rivera-Santiago, 26, of St. Croix, Virgin Islands.   Sgt. Michael C. Hardegree, 21, of Villa Rica, Ga.   Sgt. Omar L. Mora, 28, of Texas City, Texas.   Sgt. Nicholas J. Patterson, 24, of Rochester, Ind.   Spc. Ari D. Brown-Weeks, 23, of Abingdon, Md.   Spc. Steven R. Elrod, 20, of Hope Mills, N.C.   The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.   For more information on these soldiers, the media may contact the 82nd Airborne Division public affairs office at (910) 432-0661.

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mailman  Posts: 5388 West Branch, MI Zephyrhills, FL - Florida Ride Captain	13 Sep 2007 8:28 AM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert  Deepest condolences to the family and freinds of Sgt. Omar L. Mora. Rest In Peace Soldier. "Eyes on the olive branch, but arrows at the ready." Jim "mailman" US Army 1970 - 1972
StarCruzer  Posts: 2 Southern California	13 Sep 2007 8:39 AM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert  I am a PGR living in Southern CA, and an Army veteran who served with the 82nd Airborne and 7th SFG (ABN). Also, I grew up in Texas City, Texas, and my son is on his 3rd tour in Afghanistan. I am writing to share with you this story in today's Fayetteville, NC, Observer newspaper. Link here http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=272174 The article mentions that Sgt. Mora and SSgt. Gray were critics of the war in Iraq and a letter they wrote was published by the N.Y. Times. Gen. Petraeus this week was questioned about that article's conclusions. My purpose in writing is not to demean these 2 soldiers because of their opinions to which they were certainly entitled. They are Heroes who paid the ultimate price and I'm proud my brother and sister PGRs will be there to honor them and serve their families. My concern is that their published views may well attract more of the type of 'visitors' we are to shield from the families. I hope you Captains can get very large turnouts for these Soldiers. Kindly pass this along to the respective leaders in their states. Thanks and Blessings to all and to the Families of these Heroes and the Brothers who died with them that day. Special prayers for the wounded for full recovery. Respectfully submitted, StarCruzer
MirPaw  Posts: 57 Santa Fe, Texas	13 Sep 2007 8:58 AM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert  Sgt. Omar Mora, Your brothers in arms are grateful that you were willing to stand the line with us. Your sacrifice will not be in vain. My family and I will forever be grateful to you and your family and friends for your service and sacrifice. Our sincere condolences to all who know and love you, a true hero. The price for another day of freedom, paid in full. Standing by in Santa Fe, Texas U.S.Army MP 74-77 The line has been drawn in the sand. Step up to it, Don't bury your head in it. Never Again Shall One Generation Of Veterans Abandon Another.
dlinjerdal  Posts: 1435	13 Sep 2007 9:26 AM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert  May God Bless and hold close the friends and family of Sgt. Mora in this most difficult time,we are so sorry for your loss we will neber forget you Omar we will always have you in our hearts and will forever be garteful to you for our freedom,rest well our hero you are with God now. Jerry & Linda
mdurisseau  Posts: 1	13 Sep 2007 9:44 AM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert  My wife and I want to send our condolences to Sgt. Omar Mora. We have a son-in-law stationed at Ft. Campbell who has already made a tour in Iraq. We understand their grief. Our thanks to his family for their sacrifice. Michael and Frances
sc99p  Posts: 97 Austin, TX	13 Sep 2007 10:56 AM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert  Now that this has been moved to Confirmed, is there any idea as to when the services will be held? I'd really like to attend, but need to be able to schedule it... Riding in Honor of: PFC Tina Priest and PFC Amy Duerksen Gunnery Sergeant John D. Fry and Sgt. Jeffery S. Wiekamp Cpt. James A. Funkhouser and Sgt. Roger P. Pena Jr. PFC Kristian Menchaca and SSgt Forrest D. Baker SFC Kenneth I. Pugh and SGT George M. Ulloa Jr. PFC Brian J. Kubik and Lance Cpl. Luke B. Holler Cpl. Michael C. "Craig" Ledsome and Cpt. Sean E. Lyerly Cpl. Jason K. Lafleur
TMR  Posts: 1132	13 Sep 2007 11:22 AM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert  Straight to heaven.... "There is no greater love", say the Lord, "than to lay down your life for a friend". Thank you and God Bless you, Sgt Mora, for being willing to do just that.... for me and mine. 'Rest easy, son, at the top of the stairs.' Standing in spirit in Willow Springs IL TMR
mohawk5665  Posts: 126 RIDE CAPTAIN - S. FL. TEAM west palm beach	13 Sep 2007 11:35 AM Delete Edit Quote Reply Alert  Our deepest condolences to the family and friends. His stand for freedom will not be in vain. We will keep in our hearts his sacrifice for our country and carry on his mission. May God be with all of our soldiers on the front lines IF YOU DON'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS THEN STAND IN FRONT OF THEM MOHAWK SGT.AT ARMS ENFORCERS MC MOTHER CHAPTER WWW.ENFORCERSMC.COM