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Posted on 08/04/2009 9:02:26 PM PDT by bd476
Edited on 08/04/2009 9:52:55 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Update: I can't express very well the emotions I felt when I first heard the story about this latest mission from the Patriot Guard Riders except to say that I still have tears in my eyes hours later. These veterans are real American heroes. God Bless them every one.The story as reported in the news said that Michael Alan Gare had served as a Corporal in the Marines in Viet Nam.
When authorities found him, they assumed him to be "just some homeless man" who had died on the street. After further checking, they discovered his identity and realized that he was a veteran. Then according to the Patriot Guard Riders website, it was mortician Gregg Walker, who at his own expense, retrieved the remains of Michael Alan Gare from the local coroner.
The Patriot Guard Riders stood in as Michael Alan Gare's family at his funeral today at Riverside National Cemetery, assuring that Michael Alan Gare would receive the military honors and respect all Veterans should receive.
Now the Patriot Guard Riders are on a Pony Express mission from California to Florida carrying the flag from the coffin of Michael Alan Gare to his daughter and Mother in Florida, who had been unable to attend his funeral.
God Bless and Protect These Our American Heroes.
Rest in Peace Michael Alan Gare and thank you for your service to our country.
On 04 August 2009 the PGR will undertake the delivery of a casket flag from Michael Alan Gare's military honors, completed here in CA, to his daughter in FL. We will transfer the flag from rider to rider like a pony express. We will start on 04 Aug 2009 at 0900 PDT.
PGR riders from California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi. Alabama, and Florida will be carrying the flag. FL PGR riders will complete the delivery. I will be handing off the Flag at the AZ Border more details to follow.
Craig H Donor
GySgt USMC (ret)
THE ORIGINAL MISSION THREAD:
Michael served as a Cpl US Marines and is a Vietnam Vet.
This mission will be held with the 12 American Heroes mission. Due to the families inability to attend the PGR will be his Family. We will see that he receives Full Military Honors. His Flag and rounds will be sent to his 18 yr. old Daughter who resides with her Mother in Flordia.
Timetable:
04 AUG 09
0900 HRS.
Gunny
Here's the exact timetable:
DAY 1 / Tues Aug 4 / RNC, CA to Ehrenberg, AZ / responsible state = CA
DAY 2 / Wed Aug 5 / Ehrenberg, AZ to San Simon, AZ / responsible state = AZ
San Simon, AZ to El Paso, TX / responsible state = NM
DAY 3 & 4 / Thur Aug 6 / El Paso, TX to Lake Charles, AL / responsible state= TX
DAY 5 & 6 / Sat Aug 8 / Lake Charles, LA to Palm Coast, FL / responsible state = Dixie region
Ride safe and THANK YOU for being involved in this noble cause . . .
DAY ONE / Tuesday August 4 staging info:
08:00 Riverside National Cemetary
22495 Van Buren Blvd
Riverside, CA 92518
stage in the cript burial area at the rear of RNC / enter thru back gate
08:15 pre ride meeting
08:30 media access
09:00 KSU for trip down I 10 to Ehrenberg, AZ
Come for the sendoff and / or go as far as you can towards AZ with us. We will have several volunteer chase vehicles and will stop every hour for rest and hydration . . .
Ride safe!
Day One/Stage One Itinerary
On 04 Aug 2009 we will leave Riverside National Cemetery
(RNC) 22495 Van Buren Blvd Riverside, CA 92518-2740 at 0900 SHARP. We will proceed 74 miles (1hr 09 min) to The TA Truck stop at 46155 Dillon Rd, Coachella, CA 92236 for a rest stop and hydration.
The second leg will be from the TA 98 miles 1hr 26 min to the Flying J Truck stop 1 south Frontage rd Ehrenberg, AZ 85534.
We will transfer the flag to the AZ riders. We will rest eat and then go back, stopping in Indio then to our homes in CA.
Timetable:
0800 Stage in internment area 62 at RNC (enter the back gate off Village west Dr) enter and turn at the first right.
0815 Mission Meeting
0900 KSU.
1010 Estimated arrival at the TA in Coachella
1030 KSU for Ehrenberg, AZ
1200 (AZ time) estimated arrival at Ehrenberg, AZ
All riders are welcome and Chase vehicles needed. We will maintain the posted speed limits.
Why such an ambitious undertaking?
Delivering a Casket flag From Riverside CA to Palm Coast FL. I could have given it to Fed X and let them do it.
The answer is simple Michael Alan Gares was treated with love by Gregg Walker (the mortician that retrieved him from the coroner at his own expense).
The PGR lovingly escorted him and made sure he had his Military Honors. Now we will transport his flag from rider to rider so we can deliver it with Love to his Daughter. Seems simple enough to me an unbroken thread of Love.
Craig H Donor
GY SGT USMC (ret)
So Cal State Captain
Thank you MS.BEHAVIN and thank you for being a member of Patriot Guard Riders!
Thank God for the Patriot Guard Riders! God Bless all of you!
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Very cool ... thanks for the Ping.
Thank you for the ping LUV. God Bless the PGR for being there for this hero and taking his flag to his family. Lord, I pray You receive this brave man into Your Heavenly Home. Amen.
LUV W, thank you for posting such a beautiful loving tribute!
BTTT
Awesome. I had a wreck a couple of months ago, or I’d try to pick them up as they pass through TX. God bless the PGR.
Magnificent tribute...
WOW! What a story. God Bless ‘Em!
BTTT
There’s nothing to say except God bless them all.
God bless the Patriot Guard Riders. They are truly great Americans.
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ping
God bless the Patriot Guard!!!! Love ‘em!
My honor to do that for one of our heroes! God rest his soul!
I just returned home from the escort across MS to AL. It was a great turn out for the escort and an HONOR to be a part of this.
God rest his soul and bless his family!!
Thank you so much for doing that for this hero and for letting
us know that you were there. What a wonderful thing to do
for one of our fallen ones!
Amen....God rest his soul!
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