You can find more information at the
Patriot Guard Web Site.
My Patriot Guard Missions in 2014
My Patriot Guard Missions in 2013
My Patriot Guard Missions in 2012
My Patriot Guard Missions in 2011
My Patriot Guard Missions in 2010
My Patriot Guard Missions in 2009
My Patriot Guard Missions in 2008
My Patriot Guard Missions in 2007
Spc Jose R. Perez US Army 10/27/2006
Bob and I had breakfast and went to the assembly point and found Ralph Hiller there. We joined up with about 30 bikers for the service. We rode to the church and formed up with flags. It was only 1/2 mile to the cemetery and all went smoothly. It doesn't get any easier but if I don't show up why will anyone else.
Lt. Evelyn Bowling USN 9/30/2006
I left Gloucester about 8:00 am for the 2 hour drive to Coventry, Rhode Island to join up with the PGR for Lt Bowlings Memorial Service. She served as a nurse in the Navy in WW II and Korea and her son is a member of PGR. I found my way to the Cracker Barrel Restaurant an hour early and parked with the bikers that were there. Over the next hour more and more bikes showed up and there ended up being about 50 of them.
We gathered for the pre-ride briefing and Lt. Bowlings son said that he wanted to take the group on a ride through the country where his mother spent most of her life, about 40 miles ending at the Rhode Island State Veterans Cemetery in Exeter, RI. There were directions given on how the ride would be conducted and then the "Ride Leader" asked, "What states are represented today?" She mentioned R.I., Mass., N. Hamp., Maine, and N.Y. which were all represented and was about done. I stuck my hand up in the air and shouted, "Texas"! That pretty much quieted the crowd for a moment, then they all clapped.
There were two of us driving 'cages', or non-bikes and since I had the Flags and PGR sign I was put last, engines started and off we went. About a mile down the road one of the bikers fell at a congested corner, he wasn't hurt, and had only minor damage to the bike but it did mess up the parade. We had the road blocked for several minutes while he was taken care of and some of the other drivers were getting impatient.
As we got going again one of these drivers pulled in front of me and then stopped for the light so I sat there and watched the bikes disappear down the road. After the light changed I was stuck behind that car and lost sight of the bikes and didn't have a map of the route. A couple of miles down the road I saw the other 'cage' on the side of the road and she pulled out behind me and was following. A short time later I pulled over and she stopped and said, "You looked like you knew where you were going so I'm following!" I wanted to say, "look at my license plates. I'm from Texas!"
We decided that we would never catch them so I put Exeter, RI in the GPS and we took off for the cemetery. We arrived at the cemetery about 10 minutes ahead of the bikes and followed them to the grave. The cemetery is like Riverside National.
After the memorial service Lt. Bowlings son said he wanted the group to ride through the cemetery and past the Viet Nam, Korean, and WW II memorials so we put the flags away and formed up as he prepared to lead the way. Just before we got underway the Rhode Island Coordinator came over to me and said, "It was an honor having you with us today, thank you". Boy, did he get that backwards.
The WW II memorial is next to a small hill with a road that runs in a circle around it. As we approached an Air Force Sgt was standing on the hill and played Taps as we rode around the memorial, wow.
I need to find some new words to describe how it feels to participate in these events. Until then I urge you to check their web site, find a mission near where you are and find out for yourself.
Spc. Jared J. Raymond 9/28/06
I joined the Patriot Guard at the wake last night.
As the people left the wake, a few came over and thanked us for being there. Among these was a 2 star general and a cousin of the 20 year old soldier who was killed in Iraq, Jared J. Raymond. The cousin had lost his right leg, below the knee, also in Iraq and is still in the Army.
A little later a police officer stopped traffic so that an older couple could cross the street. They came right over to me and introduced themselves. The man had been on the USS Coral Sea when it was first commissioned in 1948 and they had seen my hat from across the street! Nothing wrong with his eyes.
The next morning I got an early start to get to the cemetery where the Patriot Guard was meeting. The plan was to leave the bikes at the cemetery as there was not enough parking at the church. There would be a horse drawn caisson to carry the casket and we would walk ahead of it. They had a bus to take us to the church.
We walked down the block and rode the bus to the church.
The State Troopers and Police arrived along with a Marine ROTC Unit. The main street has now been closed for a couple of hours and the schools were closed for the day.
After the service started at the church it was decided that we should have the bikes there for the procession to the cemetery so we started walking back. A couple of blocks down the road we passed a fire station and they asked what we were doing. The next thing you know the fire chief is on the radio saying, "We need a bus to take the bike riders to the cemetery". It was a good thing that he called as we didn't know if we could get back in time walking. About 3 minutes later a bus pulls up with two police motorcycles as escorts.
Someone must have told the police that we were in a hurry as this was the fastest trip ever for a non-emergency vehicle! If you haven't driven in the north-east you won't understand the narrow, twisty streets that you think twice about taking a car down, the bus didn't hesitate.
At the cemetery we lined up and the police led us out. I don't have any pictures of the trip back to the church. I had to keep both hands on the wheel. The police knew that they didn't have to wait for the bus this time! The lights and sirens came on and off we went, through red lights, stop signs the wrong side of the street you name it we did it and I had to keep up in the truck!
When we got back to the church one of the bikers said he had to stop as his flag came off of the bike. He said, "I didn't think we would be doing 80 through town!" I don't think we really did 80 but I didn't have time to look at the speedometer.
After the wild ride we lined up on the street and waited, for about an hour! There is the truck, bringing up the rear.
The procession went back to the cemetery at horse speed.
The Fire Department did their job too.
It was a fantastic experience and I was proud to be able to take part in it. I had several people that came up to the truck and asked, "did you really come from Texas?" "Yep", I said.
The family sent word to our group that they were surprised that so many people that didn't even know Jared would take the time to be here and thanked us. With what they have given our small efforts don't seem to be enough.
