Use the State settings to filter by state, and the Category to filter based on the type of mission.
- This event has passed.
Event Navigation
Honor Mission
Betty Jane Shields Ridge
USN – WWII
Bamberg, South Carolina – 08-06-19
Bamberg, South Carolina – 08-06-19
ABOUT THE MISSION:
The family of Mrs. Betty Jane Shields Ridge has requested PGR stand in honor of their loved one and escort her to her final duty station.Mrs. Ridge enlisted in the United States Navy after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. She went through basic training at Hunter College in NY City. Mrs. Ridge then took specialty training at Miami University of Ohio. Following her training she was based at Fort Ward, Bainbridge Island in Washington State. At Fort Ward Mrs. Ridge worked in Naval Intelligence until the end of WWII. The family shared that she considered her WWII service as the most important work she had ever done. She was quoted as saying, “it was a time when what we accomplished as a nation was far greater than anything we accomplished as individuals.”Growing up in Oklahoma she was an excellent student, athlete, and musician. At the age of eight years old she started playing the organ in her church. Following her service to our Nation she continued to play music and serve in her church and community. After relocating to Bamberg she worked for the Bamberg County Hospital and eventually at the Bamberg County Courthouse which she retired from. Mrs. Ridge loved to play golf and use to play on a weekly basis with friends. Her love for golf found her watching the Golf Channel often. Along with golf she loved to bake and garden.Mrs. Ridge became known for her Naval service and was recognized in numerous ceremonies in Columbia and Bamberg. A few years agon she went on the Honor Flight out of Columbia. Last year Mrs. Ridge was honored at the U.S. Naval Reserve at Ft. Jackson in Columbia on the 242nd birthday of the Navy.
PRIMARY STAGING DETAILS: 08-06-19
Staging Time: 5:00 pm
First Baptist Fellowship Hall
Ride Captain:
Ray “Fireball” Richards
843-909-2400
wrayrichards@msn.com
Special Instructions:
Brief 5:30pm
Following the briefing we will form a flag line for the arrival of family and visitors attending the 6:00-8:00 visitation. There will be frequent breaks as personnel allow. Fellowship Hall is across from the church.
Flags & Water:
Flags will be provided
Large Bike Flags will NOT be needed.
Water will be provided.
Flags will be provided
Large Bike Flags will NOT be needed.
Water will be provided.
STAGING #2 DETAILS: 08-07-19
Staging Time: 2:00 pmm
First Baptist Church
Ride Captain:
Ray “Fireball” Richards
843-909-2400
wrayrichards@msn.com
Special Instructions:
Brief 2:15 pm
the briefing we will form a flag line for the arrival of family and visitors attending the 3:00 pm service.
At the start of the funeral service we will stand down and prepare for the escort to Bamberg Memorial Gardens, 14836 Heritage Hwy, Bamberg, SC 29003
Flags & Water:
Flags will be provided
If you have large bike flags, please bring them.
Water will be provided.
Flags will be provided
If you have large bike flags, please bring them.
Water will be provided.
Submitted By: Ray Richards
Position: South Carolina Assistant State Captain
Position: South Carolina Assistant State Captain
Note: You do not have to own/ride a motorcycle or be a veteran to join, and membership is Free. The only requirement is RESPECT! To subscribe to receive mission notices, log into the National Site and click on the Members tab at the top. Select the Subscribe to PGR Missions option.
Print This Page
Print This Page
Mission Report:
Part 1: We had 8 patriots stand for the visitation. There were no incidents.
Part 2: The family extended an invitation to join them for lunch prior to the Funeral service during stage 1. When we arrived they would not have it any other way than to have us join them for lunch. We graciously accepted as there was no way to say no. As the first of us were finishing our lunch, the hearse arrived and we quickly relocated to the front of the church to stand and render honors as Mrs. Ridge’s casket was moved from the hearse to the church. Following the brief we established our flag line for the arrival of guests and the family as they entered. When the service started we stood down and prepared for the escort to the cemetery. There was an LEO escort to the cemetery. Upon arrival we retrieved our flags from the flag wagon and stood for the transport of the casket from the hearse to the gravesite. The US Navy Honor Guard presented military honors and honor was rendered during the playing of Taps. There were 8 bikes and 2 cages with 14 patriots present to honor Mrs. Ridge. The mission was completed with no incidents.
Thank you to all who attended including one new member. Additional thanks to Yoder for the flag wagon. Members came in from various areas of the state.
With Honor and Respect,
Ray “Fireball” Richards
843-909-2400
wrayrichards@msn.com