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Patriot Guard Riders: Were Vet's Family at Funeral-Now Carrying Flag Cross-Country to Vet's Family
Patriot Guard Riders ^ | August 4, 2009 | American Heroes: Patriot Guard Riders

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.



Subject: Memorial Mission - Pony Express Flag Delivery,

Michael Alan Gares, Vietnam Veteran, 04-10 AUG 09


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




TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Alabama; US: Arizona; US: California; US: Florida; US: Louisiana; US: Mississippi; US: New Mexico; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: heroes; homeless; marine; usmc; veterans; vietnamvet
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Michael Alan Gares, USMC, Vietnam Veteran,
Riverside, CA, 29 JUL 09

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 family's 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 Florida.

Timetable

1130 hrs Gather at the RNC Admin building

1200 hrs Meeting

1215 hrs KSU for Shelter "F"

1230 hrs Military Honors rendered

R/C Gunny

Michael Alan Gares, USMC, Vietnam Veteran, Riverside, CA, 29 JUL 09


1 posted on 08/04/2009 9:02:26 PM PDT by bd476
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To: All
God Bless Michael Alan Gares and May he rest in God's Eternal Peace

God Bless the Patriot Guard Riders.

God Bless All of Our Military and Veterans!


2 posted on 08/04/2009 9:06:22 PM PDT by bd476
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To: bd476

No Greater Love.......... Thanks for seeing Him Home.


3 posted on 08/04/2009 9:21:10 PM PDT by easternsky
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To: bd476

God bless the Patriot Guard


4 posted on 08/04/2009 9:25:47 PM PDT by ZULU (God guts and guns made America great. Non nobis, non nobis Domine, sed nomini tuo da gloriam.)
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To: bd476

“God Bless Michael Alan Gares and May he rest in God’s Eternal Peace

God Bless the Patriot Guard Riders.

God Bless All of Our Military and Veterans!”

Amen and bump for another American hero.


5 posted on 08/04/2009 9:27:37 PM PDT by CaribouCrossing
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To: All
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.

6 posted on 08/04/2009 9:27:52 PM PDT by bd476
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To: bd476

Fair Winds and Following Seas, Michael Alan Gare. God knows you have earned them.

And thank God that the Patriot Guard was able to make sure the veteran received the honor that he deserved.


7 posted on 08/04/2009 9:32:39 PM PDT by quikdrw (Life is tough....it's even tougher if you are stupid.)
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To: All

8 posted on 08/04/2009 9:35:00 PM PDT by bd476
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To: easternsky
easternsky wrote: "No Greater Love.......... Thanks for seeing Him Home."

Amen.

9 posted on 08/04/2009 9:35:51 PM PDT by bd476
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To: quikdrw
quikdrw wrote: "Fair Winds and Following Seas, Michael Alan Gare. God knows you have earned them.

And thank God that the Patriot Guard was able to make sure the veteran received the honor that he deserved."


Amen.

10 posted on 08/04/2009 9:37:03 PM PDT by bd476
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To: bd476

Thank you for seeing him home! God bless him his family and those who Guard his final Journey!


11 posted on 08/04/2009 9:38:17 PM PDT by Danae (- Conservative does not equal Republican. Conservative does not compromise.)
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To: bd476

God Bless

(Typing through tears)


12 posted on 08/04/2009 9:38:22 PM PDT by Velveeta
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To: CaribouCrossing
CaribouCrossing wrote: "Amen and bump for another American hero.”

Thank you CaribouCrossing.

13 posted on 08/04/2009 9:39:57 PM PDT by bd476
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To: ZULU
ZULU wrote: "God bless the Patriot Guard"

Amen. They are American Heroes.

14 posted on 08/04/2009 9:42:31 PM PDT by bd476
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To: bd476

No thanks needed, bd476. All thanks and gratitude go to our brave men and women who serve us all. Had a son in Iraq. He survived, some of his buds didn’t. Nothing will repay that debt adequately enough, but we all do what we can.


15 posted on 08/04/2009 9:43:53 PM PDT by CaribouCrossing
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To: Danae
Danae wrote: "Thank you for seeing him home! God bless him his family and those who Guard his final Journey!"

The Patriot Guard Riders continue to serve our country with courage, with selfless devotion and they honor all who are proud to serve in our American military. God Bless them all.

16 posted on 08/04/2009 9:46:19 PM PDT by bd476
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To: bd476; BIGLOOK; LUV W; SandRat; StarCMC; Randy Larsen

God Bless the PGR!
I’m so proud to be a member!
PINGING a few friends!


17 posted on 08/04/2009 9:47:44 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history)
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To: Velveeta
Velveeta wrote: "God Bless (Typing through tears)"

Amen. (tears here too.)

18 posted on 08/04/2009 9:48:10 PM PDT by bd476
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To: MS.BEHAVIN

Thanks for the ping! And thank you for being a member of this
wonderful group!

What a wonderful and uplifting story.

God bless our troops and God bless the PGR!


19 posted on 08/04/2009 9:58:03 PM PDT by luvie (A Free Iraq is possible because of the presidency, policies and patriotism of George W Bush!!)
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To: CaribouCrossing
Thank you then for your son's service in Iraq. Loving family support given without question is the sacrifice that families of Veterans make. God Bless you, your son and your family. God Bless all Veterans and God Bless America!

20 posted on 08/04/2009 9:58:05 PM PDT by bd476
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