I have enjoyed serving as the Assistant HOTH Coordinator and then the HOTH Coordinator for the State of Mississippi for better than 2 1/2 years combined. So it is with mixed emotions that I write this email resigning from the position of HOTH Coordinator. I have always been a firm believer that even though the position is voluntary, it should not be treated as one. I have also felt that if ever I was not able to give the position the attention that is deserves, then I should step down. Our veterans and troops deserve someone that has the time to do the position justice. Since starting my pilot car business a little over 3 months ago, I have felt that I have failed in holding up to that standard. I am very grateful to Ed and others for covering as much of the HOTH missions as they have in that time to give me a chance to get settled into the business and see what was going to happen. I had great hope that it would settle down and I would be able to continue as HOTH Coordinator, but sadly the pilot car business keeps me busier than trucking did and I don’t see it letting up for a while.
On a good note, there has been someone that has stepped up to the plate and is wiling to take over the HOTH mission in MS. Dean Jaynes is a Viet Nam Veteran of ’68 – ’69 – awarded a bronze star in 1969 and an active member of the PGR. I hope that you all will welcome him with open minds, hearts and arms. He will be sending out an introduction email soon. He is ready to take the rains and runs with it. I feel from talking with him that I am leaving HOTH in very capable hands. Thank you Dean for volunteering to take over the HOTH mission. Whereas I am sad to not be serving our veterans and troops in such a manner any more, I know that you will do a fine job of picking up where I and the ones that have served in this position before me have left off.
I look forward to seeing what comes next personally, professionally and in my service to the PGR. But for now, as with so many of us, tell me where to be and I will be there.
Currently, the plane is to at arrive about 1400 Thursday at the ANG base at the north end of the Jackson International Airport. We anticipate a huge crowd (1,000-1,500 people).
Tentative Plan (ALL is subject to change)
We are planning on stage at the the Flowood Police Department parking lot around 1300 and then Flowood PD escort to ANG base. Waiting on confirmation with PD Chief.
I will be at a planning meeting at the base with Honor Guard and Base Staff Officers at 1300 Wed April, 13, 2011. We are working on the PGR being able to stand a flag line from Plane to Hurst on the flight line but no bikes will be allowed on flight line. We may be limited to the number of PGR members that can stand this flag line. These details will be worked out at Wed meeting.
We will provide an escort to Ott and Lee Funeral Home at 1360 West Government Street, Brandon. There will be no visitation that Thursday evening. Flags will be posted at the funeral home until Friday
Friday Apri 15, 2011
We will provide escort from Ott and Lee Funeral Home to Pinelake Baptist Church, 6071 Highway 25 (Lakeland Dr), on Friday afternoon at a time TBD. Visitation will be 1800-2100 on Friday at Pinelake We will stand a Flag Line during the Visitation.
I will post flags from West Central Ms Region at the church at 1200 Friday. These Flags will remain in place for the duration and we will use flags from the other regions for Flag Line at church and cemetery
Sat April 16
The funeral will be at 1500 on Saturday at Pinelake Baptist Church, again with a flag line. We will escort from Pinelake Baptist Church to New Brandon Cemetery on Star Road, south of Polk’s Drug Store
RC’s will be Ed Baker and Alan SmitH.
I will have times and staging areas after the 1300 meeting tomorrow. So please be patient there is a lot of planning to be finalized but,,,,ALL INFO WILL BE POSTED ASAP.
Please Post to all web sites and everyone is welcome to attend
“Operation Band of Brothers” is the MS PGR’s 1st annual MS GOTG, April 29th through May 1st in Natchez, MS. We invite all PGR nation wide to join us for a great weekend of music, rides on the Trace, and camaraderie.
The 1-155th Combined Arms Combat Team will assist us in a special ceremony to honor the current and former military as well as our fallen. The main event will be catered by the “Pig Out Inn.”
This event will coincide with the Natchez Blues Festival at Rosalie Mansion.
We have lots of great things in the works for the weekend. ie. bike parade, raffles, rides, and much more. We are working on getting a block of rooms at a reduced rate.
As soon as we have a schedule of events as well as other details, we will post them here, on the MS PGR state web site and on the Patriot guard Rider of Mississippi Facebook page. Please check back in one of those places for more information closer to the event.
SGT Eric Newman was killed in Afghanistan October 14th of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 1st Squadron, 38th Cavalry Regiment, 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C.
I have been on more KIA missions with the MS PGR than I care to count. Every time there is an out pouring of love, loss and support for the family and I know that I shouldn’t be surprised by the support a community shows for one of our fallen heros, but this time I was completely amazed. The city of Waynesboro, MS came to honor SGT Newman in a way that I have never seen before. It started at the airport in Meridian, MS on Thursday when Newman’s body arrived, and continued all along the 50 mile route to Waynesboro and the funeral home. There were officers and fire fighters from Wayne County, Waynesboro, and Meridian,as well as 47 PGR and bikers.
I don’t think there was any kind of auto moving in the city other than the procession from the time we entered till we arrived at the funeral home. I have made the comment several times that it is hard to ride my Harley with tears filling my eyes and goggles, but this time was different. There were more tears.
The city of Waynesboro had heard that “uninvited guest” were targeting this service and those same uninvited guest even had it up on their web site. I am not sure if it was one woman or several, but there were flyers being handed out as Newman’s body was being escorted through town. One concerned citizen made it a point to give the flyer to the PGR State Captain, Ed Baker and he went to work to confirm their attendance.
The “uninvited guest” have to obtain a permit to legally protest. After a bit of investigation and some phone calls, Ed sent us all and email telling us that a reporter had a direct quote from the city clerk that they had NOT gotten that permit. That allowed the PGR to focus on what we were there to do, honor a true American Hero.
Visitation was Friday evening and about 20 of us were there to stand the flag line. The city of Waynesboro sent out a message that they wanted to do something for the PGR for being there to honor it’s fallen son and the Honor Guard from Ft Bragg. Many of the churches and community members came together to set up a feast fit for a king. We ate in shifts so as to make sure there were enough PGR members there to stand the flag line and have extras to rotate out with. I was lucky enough and honored to be in the group that arrived at the firehouse while the Honor Guard from Ft Bragg was still there. What a great group of soldiers! It was an honor to meet them.
The city had invited them to attend the football game that night. As they arrived at the ball field, they announced that the soldiers were on their way in. As they entered the field, there was a standing ovation. I was told that it brought them to tear to see such a greeting.
A the end of the evening some rode home and some of us grabbed hotel rooms.
Services were held on Saturday, October 23rd. A Never Forget flag had been embroidered in honor of SGT Newman and was flown for the escort from the funeral home to the cemetery. It was presented to Newman’s mother with the hope that the Waynesboro Police Dept. will fly it in honor of SGT Newman.
There were over 100 bikers on over 90 motorcycles that came to stand the flag line, and to honor and escort SGT Newman to his final resting place.
Once again, the “uninvited guests” made a very small presents. I did not talk to her and the only time I saw her was after she had been asked to leave and had only moved her SUV to the other side of the funeral home. Once we knew she had not left, we alerted the officers there and they took care of it. When it was time for the escort to the cemitary, the officers made sure that she didn’t leave when we did.
We formed a flag line at the cemetery and presented the mother and wife with plaques in honor of SGT Newman.
I want to say thank you to the city of Waynesboro for showing such great support to SGT Newman’s family and friends and to the PGR. When a community comes together such as they did, it restores my faith in humanity.
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!
