Yesterday afternoon and evening I had quite an experience with the Patriot Guard. We helped escort PFC Gordon's remains across southern Minnesota from Fairmont, where we took over from the riders from Rochester, and took him to South Dakota. Waiting for the group from Rochester to arrive was kind of like the old days with the PGR, just hanging out, getting our flags unfurled, talking to "civilians", watching bikes returning from Sturgis refuel at the station we were assembled at, and waving at vehicles honking as they went by. Dave Muhde stopped by our house on the way to Fairmont, and we spent some time catching up on things, and I took him through the garages to show him our collection. Things have been a little slow in our sector lately so it was good to see so many familiar faces when we arrived in Fairmont. Naturally the escort coming from Rochester to Albert Lea to Fairmont was running late, so by the time they arrived we were almost an hour behind the original schedule. Then the fun parts start when the procession arrives with police escort and local sheriffs stopping traffic, standing a flag line and saluting the casket as he passes by, then quickly stowing our flags and getting riding gear on. Dave, and I, and four others formed the escort pulling out ahead of the vehicle carrying the casket, and we followed a Minnesota Highway patrolman. We ran about 75 in the left lane all the way to the first South Dakota rest stop, about 100 miles or so. By the time we got there it was dark. The South Dakota crew was there waiting for us to arrive. They would escort them to a funeral home in Sioux Falls, and today they will escort him all the way to Rapid City! Anyhow the scene at the rest stop was a repeat of Fairmont, lots of hand shaking, and b s ing about the ride etc., thanking the patrolman. We formed a line and the vets in the line saluted the casket as he continued his journey home to Canada. I headed home in the dark carefully scanning for deer all the way, while a near full moon kept me company, sliding through broken clouds. I rolled into the driveway around midnight, definitely the latest night riding that I have done in a very long time. All in all a very good deed was done by all involved. Sometimes I hate to say things like this are fun but some of our missions are very satisfying to say the least. If anyone is interested check out the website, it is quite a story.
www.7tharmddiv.org/3ad-lawrence-gordon.htm
2 comments:
Pete, I'm proud of you for your past service and now your service with the Patriot Guard. I'm sure you have some idea of how much this means to the bereaved.
I thought of you earlier this week and wondered if you were present at the funeral procession for the slain police officer from Mendota Heights.
I am glad to hear that things have been slow in your sector--that's not a bad thing, considering. What an interesting job it must be to work identifying these remains and bringing them back home.
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