Over the last 3 days I have had the sad but honorable duty of riding escort for KIA SPC Anthony Blount. This was my second KIA mission, but this time I was able to participate all 3 days instead of just the day of the services. I am thankful that in a weird twist of fate, even though I can no longer drive a big truck, I can still ride my bike and am able to give these Heroes my support and stand a line for them.
Thursday morning around 1020 a small jet landed at the Hattiesburg/Laural Airport with SPC Anthony Blount’s body. This was the first time I have met a plane at the airport and it was so very hard. I stood beside Kim and Wilma and let the tears roll down my face. Kim and I were lucky that our sons came home safe as they can, both suffering from PTSD. But Wilma is a Gold Star Mom and I know this day was very hard on her. We stood there arm in arm to comfort each other as they brought the coffin off the plane with the family standing at the edge of the flight line. I can only imagine their pain and feel a hint of guilt for being thankful for that.
There were 76 bikes there to bring SPC Blount home to his family. Not all were PGR, some were from Camp Shelby and a couple of other motorcycle groups from the area. As we made our way into town and around the High School, I was amazed and thankful to see so many people out on the side of the road to support and honor this Hero and his family. Once again I had to fight the tears as we made our round of the school and the age of the kids there went from High School to the Elementary, younger and younger. At one point I remember seeing a boy scout troop on the side of the road holding the National Flag and saluting. My goggles filled with tears; it made it very hard to see where I was riding.
On Friday night there were about 25 PGR that stood the Flag line during the viewing. Taking turns every 15 minuets for 3 hours we did our best to make sure the family knew that their loved one was honored. Several time family would come out and thank us for being there. My response was always the same, “It is our honor to be allowed to be here.” And that is how I and many other feel. At one point, after standing the line, as Kim and I walked back down to the resting area, SPC Blount’s Aunt stopped us to thank us again. She had flown in from up north and was full of great stories about Anthony. We listened to her talk about Anthony and how he wanted to become a preacher and how surprised she was when he told them he was going into the Army. She was very proud of her nephew and you could tell that she loved him very much.
Saturday morning we gathered again at the Funeral Home, this time to escort SPC Blount’s from the funeral home to the church to the cemetery. We had around 80 biles this day. We had the honor of being lead by SPC Blount’s brother-in-law and his cousin rode with my Dad at the end of all the bikes. Once again, the route we took was lined with people showing their love and support. Once at the church, we stood a flag line for the family to enter and then waited for the services to be over.
With my left wrist hurting I decided I would go ahead with two others to the cemetery to help set up the flags and wait for the procession to get there. We set up flags in a U shape around the tent and a few others on the entry road to the cemetery. The the color guard arrived. A few minuets after that, the first of the PGR came rolling in.
I stood there directing them through the route they were to take. Then when the bikes had past, I rendered my honors to SPC Blount and his family.
We then stood a flag line during the grave side service. Ed, our State Capitan presented the family with a flag, a plaque and a bear with a medal for the unborn daughter.
I am so proud to be a part of such a great group of people that now matter where we come from, what our beliefs are, or our political views are, we love, honor and support our Troops. I like many others wish there was no more mission like this to do, but we know better. So as long as there are KIA, Veterans, Troops deploying overseas to combat zones, we will be there to make sure that they know they have love and support back home. That what they are doing DOES matter and that we DO applicate their sacrifices.
To SPC Anthony Blount: Thank you for you service and making the ultimate sacrifice.
To his family: I can not know your pain, but you are in my prayers. Anthony will NEVER be forgotten by any of us.
It may seem like such a simple thing to you and me to see 6 bikes with 7 riders sitting out side the gate of Camp Shelby, but for the 412th Engineering Battalion out of Vicksburg, MS that just left headed to Afghanistan, it was a big deal. For reasons of Operational Security, there is no big fan fair when these men and women leave the Country headed out on a deployment. There is no family there to hug them, tell them they love them, wave goodbye and express their hope that they ALL return home, safe and sound at the end of their deployment, that is what the Patriot Guard Riders’ “Help on the Homefront” mission is all about.
“Help on the Homefront” or HOTH, is a relatively new mission that the Patriot Guard Riders have adopted and the national guidelines are still being defined. But for us here in the state of Mississippi, we know what we want our mission to encompass, help for the soldiers and their families at home, provide send off and welcome home escorts, and show our continuing love and respect for our Veterans.
As with any other Patriot Guard Riders mission in the state of Mississippi, when there is something to be done, an email goes out state wide to all members and is posted on the national and state web sites. But some times these notices can be very short notice, or plans can change, as with the 412th Engineering Battalion.
The notice of this send off mission came a few days before they were to deploy. An email was sent out to all Mississippi State PGR members, and being the Assistant Mississippi State HOTH Coordinator, I made my plans to attend. Two days before the mission, I received a call from Kim, Mississippi State HOTH Coordinator, telling me that she was sending out another email, the date and times for the send off had been moved up due to a breach of Operational Security. In the email Kim also informed us that there were several PGR members from the states of Arkansas and Georgia among the men and women deploying. So not only are these brave men and women willing to serve our Country in the military, but they also show that the “job” does not end when they come home. They stand beside the rest of us, to honor and respect their brothers and sisters in arms.
Several times a year the Mississippi PGR will get together for a flag singing event. With every Unit that deploys from Mississippi we send with them a Patriot Guard Riders flag signed by the members. The hope is that when they look at this flag while deployed, they will know that there are people back home that love, honor and respect them even though we may not know them personally.
Kim, MS State HOTH Coordinator and Ed, MS State Ride Capitan, presenting the Battalion with the signed flag
After the presentation of the flag, we escorted the 412th Engineering Battalion from Camp Shelby to Gulfport. When we arrived at the airport, we all parked on the side, honked our horns, revved our engines and waved as they passed through the gate. One though was on all our minds as the red tail lights disappeared from site in the dark, “I hope that when we escort them home when they return, that we escort ALL of them.”
Besides the send off and welcome home missions for those deploying, the “Help on the Homefont” mission also continues to show our love and respect for our Veterans. Among the many things we do for our Veterans is visit the VA homes across the state. We have 4 of these homes in the state of Mississippi. Every year, around Christmas, we go and visit the residents of each of these. We always like to bring them a little gift to show our continuing love and respect and that they are not forgotten. This year will be no different.
Each member of the PGR provides their own gas to, from and during any event. The flags presented to deploying units, plaques given to the families of the Fallen and anything else we do are totally supported through donations from the members and the American public. This year we had a “Halloween for Hero’s Ride” to raise money to buy fleece blankets & Christmas cards for every Veteran in the four MS VA homes to be given during our Christmas visits.
One of my duties as Assistant Mississippi State HOTH Coordinator is to help set up these visits. As I called the homes and talked to the Event Coordinators each of their voices brightened when I told them who I was with and that we wish to visit again this year. They went on and on about how much the residents loved our visits, talking with us and seeing our bikes. For me, hearing the excitement in their voices made my eyes fill with tears. To many times we, as a society, forget our elderly. Soon, many of these Veterans will be gone. Gone will be their wisdom that comes with age, and gone will be the stories they tell from a time when the whole World was at war. I, personally, look forward to our visits with them this coming December.
If anyone would like to help our effort, donations came be mailed to:
They stand a line in honor of a person that they have never met and will never will. That is what the Patriot Guard Riders do, “Standing for those that stood for us”.
In August 2005, Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church made plans to protest at the funeral of Sgt. John Doles in Chelsea, OK. The American Legion Riders, chapter 136 from Kansas, heard about it and were outraged. They decided that something had to be done. At one of their meetings a committee was appointed to come up with a battle plan to counter Fred Phelps and the WBC. They were very successful in gathering riders to stand in honor of Sgt Doles and protecting the family from Fred Phelps and the WBC. Later, they established a mission statement and agreed that the goal was to get Veterans and motorcycle groups to handle each of their own states.
Over time the membership has grown by leaps and bounds. Today there are over 175000 members is all 50 states. They don’t care what you ride, or if you ride. They don’t care where you stand of the political battlefield or where you are from. The only requirement for membership is RESPECT! The mission is a simple, legal, non-violent one:
Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.
For me, personally, my membership started in late 2005 while I was still in Kuwait working as a civilian contractor. Over time, I also recruited my Dad and my brother in 2006, my oldest son in 2007, and many friends as members.
Just recently, after having been a member and attending many missions with the Patriot Guard Riders for the last 3 ½ years since my return home, I was honored to ride my first KIA mission. Being a truck driver, it seemed that I was always on the road when the state of Mississippi had a KIA. Every time I look in my inbox and see a new email from Ed Baker, our state captain, my heart sinks into the pit of my stomach and I get a catch in my throat. The subject line always has the name of our Fallen Hero and this one read, “PGR Statewide – LA – PFC Matthew E. Wildes, 18, Hammond, LA, 01, 03 SEP 09”. PFC Mathew E, Wildes was killed in Afghanistan, August 27, 2009, when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. I received this email from our state captain just a few short days before PFC Wildes’ body was to return home.
Included in the email were staging points for different areas of Mississippi and Louisiana. Along the Gulf Coast, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida Patriot Guard Rider groups will many times, ride over to the other state to render honors. So when I saw that this would be in Hammond, LA., all I needed to know was when and where I needed to be. Then it hit me how old he was, 18, such a young age to die. Not even having had the chance to live life, fall in love, get married, or have children, this young man had given his life in service to our Country. Still recovering from shattering both my wrists last November, this long of a ride was going to be painful, but it was one mission, that no matter what, I was going to attend.
The Patriot Guard Riders escorted his body from the air port to the funeral home on September 1, 2009. As much as I wanted to be a part of this escort duty, because of the weather and my wrists, I thought it best that I wait till the services and stand the line for him.
The morning of September 3, 2009, I met several MS Patriot Guard members in Gulfport. We met more MS PGR on I12 before riding on to Hammond. In total there were 17 bikes and 2 cages (4-wheelers), from Mississippi and about 9 bikes and several cages from Louisiana at the funeral home.
As always, before any family shows up, a meeting was held, a prayer said, and we picked our team to swap out with. Each member stands the flag line for 15 minuets and then is relieved by another member. We worked in sets of 3, so that on such a hot day, we would have time to drink water and relax for 30 minuets between our turn to stand the line.
As I waited for my first duty on the flag line, I popped another pain pill and visited with the other members. I can not tell you how many times we have all said that we love seeing each other, but hate the reason that brings us together. Several of the members are Iraq or Afghanistan Veterans and Vietnam Veterans, but many of us are not. Many are family members of the military and some just have in their heart to show their respect and love for our troops.
When it came my turn to stand the flag line, I somberly walked to the front of the funeral home and found the person I was to take over for. I quietly walked behind him and took the American Flag from his had. Standing at parade rest, eyes forward and silent, I did my best to keep the tears from rolling down my face as the family and friends made their way into the funeral home.
After my first 15 minuets was up, I was relieved by another member and started to make my way back to the back parking lot. I was stopped and asked if I had seen the billboard sign on the corner across from the funeral home. I had not, so I went to take a look.
The billboard was an electronic one that rotated different advertisements. Two of these were dedicated to PFC Matthew Wildes. As I stood there and watched them rotate through, my heart was heavy and filled with sadness, but yet also with pride. I know that may sound a bit crazy, but to see a community come together and show their love and respect for this Fallen Hero is such a manner was overwhelming.
I can not tell you how many times I stood my 15 minuets in the rotation. Whereas it was OUR honor to stand the line for PFC Wildes, every time I held that flag, someone would thank us for being there. And out of all those that thanked us, none hit me as hard as when PFC Wildes brother came out and thanked us. I can not tell you what he said because I could not hear it all. But the emotion on his face, to know that his brother was loved and respected by people that didn’t even know him, was great! I could no longer hold back my tears. Even though many of us wear our sun glasses to hide our watery eyes, they made no difference this time. The tears rolled down my face in a steady stream, and as I looked around, I saw many a tear stained face.
The time came for us to line up for the escort to the church. Those that had them unfurled their big 3×5 flags and got in line. We escorted PFC Wildes’ body and family for the 2 miles from the funeral home to the church. As we rode you could see people standing on the side of the road with signs and American flags in hand. Many put their hands over their hearts as others saluted. Some people even stopped, got out of their cars and rendered their honor as we passed. Do you know how hard it is to ride a motorcycle with your eyes full of tears? It isn’t easy, but I can’t help but get teary eyed to see so many people standing in the middle or on the side of the road to honor this young hero.
PFC Matthew Wildes was given full Military Honors at the church as we all stood the flag line one more time as a full group in his honor. The flag from the coffin was folded and given to his mother. Then, as with all KIA missions, the Patriot Guard gave the family a plaque, the first line on it reads, “On Behalf of a Grateful Nation…” Then came the 21 Gun Salute.
We stood our ground in silence, as tears rolled down my face again. It wasn’t just the sadness of a Nation’s loss of a Hero, but of a mother’s loss of a son. I am one of the lucky mothers, my son came home from Iraq. And though he has problems with PTSD, I can still talk to and hug him, for that I am very grateful.
I have done my best in these few words to pass along the love and respect that every Patriot Guard Rider member has for our Troops. But the written word will never give justice to the feelings we have in being honored to stand the line for these brave men and women.
Published:
Tue, October 20, 2009 – 5:08 pm CST Last Updated: Tue, October 20, 2009 – 5:42
pm CST
MOBILE, Alabama – It’s estimated that there are over 150,000 homeless veterans across the U.S.. Many pass away with no family or money to see to a proper burial. One group made sure that a homeless veteran from right here in the Port City got the honor that his Vietnam war service merited. News 5 photojournalist Gary Arnold takes us to Biloxi where Air Force veteran Anthony Vallia was given full military honors.
With more than 150,000 homeless veterans in the U.S., many whose remains are unclaimed at their death risk burial in pauper’s graves. Through the Dignity Memorial® Homeless Veterans Burial Program, one Mobile-area veteran won’t be among them. U.S. Air Force veteran Aubrey Vallia Jr. (1945 – 2009) is the first homeless veteran in Mobile to be served by the Dignity Memorial Homeless Veterans Burial Program. The program has existed in other parts of the country since 2000 but was organized in the Mobile area just this summer. Through the Dignity Memorial Homeless Veterans Burial Program, Vallia will receive a chapel service at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19 at Radney Funeral Home, 3155 Dauphin St. in Mobile, and a graveside service with military funeral honors at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Biloxi National Cemetery with interment following. Vallia, 64, is a Vietnam-era veteran with no home, no money, and no legal next-of-kin to make his funeral arrangements. That’s when Radney Funeral Home stepped in to see to it that Vallia receives a burial befitting a veteran of our nation’s armed services.
With Wilma Allen recently accepting PRC duties in her region, this left the Assistant State HOTH Coordinator position vacant (I can’t thank Wilma enough for all she does for us.) I’m so pleased to announce that Cindy Morgan has graciously accepted this role. Cindy, or “White Rose”, has been a member of the Patriot Guard Riders since 2005. She has been a truck driver for 20 years with the better part of 3 years in Iraq as a civilian contractor hauling supplies to our troops. She worked her way up to convoy commander in just a few short months. She is the mother of 3 boys, one of which served in the Army and was in Iraq at the same time she was. Cindy is a co-author on the popular Military blog, “A Soldier’s Perspective” and is the author of the book “Cindy in Iraq : A Civilian’s Year in the War Zone”, based on her own blog “Cindy in Iraq ”. Her family has a long history of serving in the military and her love for our Troops is evident
in all that she does. Cindy is also one of the bloggers that made Air Force history last May by being invited to fly with the Hurricane Hunters out of Keesler AFB on real mission into storms in the Gulf of Mexico this hurricane season.
Cindy is very committed to the fundraising challenges that we have before us and is ready to reach our goal to make Christmas at the Veteran’s Homes this year special for our Veterans. Wounded soldiers also are high on her list. She brings with her an abundance of ideas, energy and jovial spirit! Please join me in a show of support by welcoming Cindy in her new role.
Kimberly Brown
Mississippi Patriot Guard Rider
in Memory of:
Sgt. Charles A. Williams, Sr.
Cpl. W. T. Brown
in Honor of:
Sgt. Christopher S. Street (ret.)
WOW, what a turnout we had for the 1st annual Freedom Ride in the Mississippi coast! There were over 800 bikes there with around 150 of them being current PatriotGuard Riders (PGR).
Every time I do something with the PGR I see new faces, this was no different….
Well, I saw more new faces than ever before, but ti was great. Old friends and new friends, it was just great. We talked about everything under the sun and marveled at the turn out. For this being the first year for this ride, it was a great turnout.
Course, with 800 bikes, we had to make a stop in the middle of the ride to let the tail catch up. This gave several of us time to snap a few pictures.
Yeap, that is me in the middle picture there, but look at all those bikes!! I know it is going to be hard to see the line of bikes in this next picture, but what can ya expect. You try taking a picture while moving on a motorcycle and making sure you don’t run into anyone!!!
All in all, it was a great day, we had a great turnout of bikers and PGR members. I enjoined meeting everyone. But the biggest thing is that we got a chance to show our respect, love and support for our Country and our Troops!
Happy Birthday to the USA, and thank you to all those that HAVE served, ARE serving, and WILL serve out great Nation!
What a wonderful day, even though it did start at 0445 this morning! The 113th MP’s from Brandon, MS came home from Iraq! It was just a year ago that the MS PGR escorted this find men and women as they were on their way TO Iraq. I was not able to make that mission, but I was not going to miss this one. We staged up outside the south gate of camp Shelby and waited for the busses to roll out the gate.
As you can see from these pictures, there was a great turnout of PGR for this mission. I know I speak for many, if not all of the PGR membership when I say that to be able to do a “feel good” mission once in a while, to see these men and women reunited with their families, helps us all and means so very much to us and our troops.
I didn’t get an actual count of the number of bike on this mission, but I believe that there were some where between 75 and 100 bikes. We rode from Camp Shelby through Hattiesburg to south of Jacksonville and then on to Brandon, MS. It was a quiet ride for most of the trip. then we started seeing people on the side of the road with American Flags.
And as we kept riding, we saw more and more people with signs and flags.
There was no black or white. The only colors were red, white and blue.
There was no Republican or Democrat, just people showing their support for their loved ones.
There was no for or against the war. Just people saying thank you for what you do.
We were met at the Armory with a massive amount of family and friends.
During the ceremony we learned that one soldier had lost his grandfather(also a veteran) while he was deployed. He was not able to return home for the funeral. But it was his grandfathers wish that his grandson receive the American Flag that had been draped across his coffin. It was presented to him today.
After a few more people made their comments, the soldiers were released to great their families.
We even had one of our own who had a son-in-law in this unit. He was given a PGR flag to take to Iraq. The only request our friend had, was the his son-in-law bring it home to him, signed by he unit, in person.
For me, this was a very special mission. I can not name nor tell you where all of the escorts I had in Iraq came from. But I can tell you that each escorted me to the best of their ability and several went above and beyond the call of duty. Today was a great honor! Even though this unit never escorted any of my convoys, I was in a way, able to return favor. I was given the honor to escort them home to their family and friends. I will never forget this day and I hope with all my heart, that I will have the opportunity to receive this honor again.
I am sure that many of you remember the post about Cpl Dustin Lee and his dog Lex. Well, after a petition and many letters, Lex came home to Cpl Lee’s family on December 22. As with any other of our military Hero’s, the Patriot Guard Riders were there to escort him home to his family.
I have to insert a few personal notes here.There were several PGR mission this day around the Mississippi and Louisiana area that day. With my brother and Dad having been on Cpl Lee’s Funeral mission many months ago, I felt this was the mission I needed to attend. My Dad and brother were not going to be able to attend this one, so I felt someone from our family needed to be there.Along with 3 other PGR member from the MS coast, I made the cold ride to Meridian, MS that morning. Many of us met at the Harley shop, talked, had coffee and then rode to the state line to meet Lex and his new family.Lex flew into Georgia. The family met him there as well as the GA PGR. As they made their way home, the AL PGR joined the escort across their states and then the MS PGR as they came into their home state. A couple of the MS PGR even made the trip to GA to escort Lex from start to finish.When my small group from the coast arrived at the welcome center at the states line, we were told that the family was picking up more and more escorts at every stop. I was very proud to be a part of this and to call this country, the United States, home.
At the welcome center, the family got Lex out so he could meet everyone. what a wonderful and friendly dog he is. (You can see my arm in this picture petting Lex) He greeted every one with great energy and wagging tail. After Lex greeted everyone we mounted up and escorted him to where Cpl Dustin Lee was laid to rest. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the county when the family brought out Cpl Lee’s combat boots, set them on the grave. Lex sniffed the boots and then laid down beside them. I know I had to walk away. I couldn’t keep my composure.
As anyone knows, that has had a dog growing up or even as an adult, there is a bond that is great. The bond and love between Lex and Cpl Lee was one of these great bonds. Even though this wont bring their son back, the family does have a little piece of Dustin with them every day.
CBS has a video up of an interview with the Lee family.
you can find it here –> wbztv.com/video/?id=6743@cbslocal.dayport.com
Along with many other men and women of this great country, I am a member of the Patriot Guard Riders, (PGR). From this article that I read today, it looks like we are going to be VERY busy guarding our Fallen Hero’s and their families in the future. The Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church vows to continue protesting at funerals even after being ordered to pay $11 million to the family of a fallen Soldier that they offended.
“We will continue to warn you of your impending doom as long as our God gives us breath,” church leaders said in a press release lined with biblical references and pictures of the signs its members flaunt at funerals.
They have since picketed the funerals of Frank Sinatra and Bill Clinton’s mother, celebrated the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks as an act of God’s wrath, and have even targeted Santa Claus and the Ku Klux Klan.
These nut jobs have been given the freedoms that they have in this Country by the very people whos funerals the protest. How can these people call themselves “Christian” and act in such a disrespectfull manner?!
The group’s presence at the funerals of dozens of troops across the country has sparked a grassroots movement of bikers determined to drown out the jeers and taunts.
This last quote from the article I fond on Military.com is what I would like to address. Here is the PGR mission statement.
The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.
We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.
Our main 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. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.
We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.
To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedoms of others, at home and abroad, please know that we are backing you. We honor and support you with every mission we carry out, and we are praying for a safe return home for all.
If you dont ride a motorcycle, you can still join and be a support vehicle. We always need someone carry water and the American Flags.
These pictures are from the last mission my local PGR did a little over a week ago.
With these crazy nut jobs vowing to protest at more funerals, the PGR are going to need every able troop supporting body that we can get. So come join me and the over 100,000 other Patriot Guard Rider members in standing up for those that stood for us…..because it is the RIGHT thing to do!!!
