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14 Completed Missions
(click a mission below)
Sat 24 Jun 2006
Laurel, MS
SFC Clarence D. McSwain
U.S. Army
Wed 12 Jul 2006
Ft. Campbell, KY
Eagle Remembrance Ceremony
U.S. Army
Sat 15 Jul 2006
Dyersburg, TN
Pfc Kevin F. Edgin
U.S. Army
Sat 26 Aug 2006
Memphis, TN
LCpl. Adam R. Murray
U.S. Marine
Sun Oct 15 2006
Germantown, TN
Capt Robert M. Secher
U.S. Marine
Mon 16 Oct 2006
Union City, TN
Welcome Home Ride 913th Engineer Co.
U.S. Army
Tue 12 Dec 2006
Finger, TN
Sgt. Dustin M. Adkins
U.S. Army
Sun 22 Apr 2007
Florence, AL
Spc. James T. Lindsey
U.S. Army
Sat 28 Apr 2007
Dickson, TN
LCpl. Jeffrey A. Bishop
U.S. Marine
Sat 19 May 2007
Tishomingo, MS
Sgt. Jason W. Vaughn
U.S. Army
Sat 23 Jun 2007
Nashville, TN
SrA William N. Newman
U.S. Air Force
Fri 20 Jun 2008
Clarksville, TN
SFC Gerard M. Reed
U.S. Army
Tue 13 Oct 2009
Memphis, TN
PFC Brandon A. Owens
U.S. Army
Patriot Guard Website
Other Tribute Sites
Fallen Coalition Heroes
Iraq/Afghanistan
War Heroes
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Click the jet just above this to hear, see and shake as some jets that you choose do a flyby. If you want to know about the Patriot Guard, Click Here
How to use my mission log
The PGR organizes "missions". The term is not meant to be disrespectful or insensitive. You can check out my notes on the missions that I have attended by clicking a mission link on the left side panel. They are listed in chronological order.
My 1st mission was on 24 Jun 2006, Sgt. Clarence D. McSwain of Laurel MS. I will never forget him and pray for his family often. If you're interested in joining the Patriot Guard and wonder what the first time is like, then you should read this mission first.
Mission Date: Sat 23 Jun 2007
 DoD Identifies Air Force Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Senior Airman William N. Newman, 23, of Kingston Springs, Tenn., gave his all on June 7th, 2007, south of Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team of the 15th Civil Engineer Squadron, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.
 Kingston Springs is just outside of Nashville. Just a few hours from Brighton and on a Saturday so I went. Will’s job was in explosive ordinance, EOD. He was killed by an IED that he was defusing. He was 23 years old.
I met up with the group at a Cracker Barrel just outside of Nashville a little after 08:00. It wasn’t long till I saw Ron, he and I work together. We talked for a minute and the ride captain called for all of us to gather around for our briefing. We would go on to the church and stand outside while the family and friends arrive. Then we would ride in the procession to the cemetery and stand in honor there. A group of protestors was scheduled to attend but they don’t always show. But we would be ready to shield the family if needed. It was also going to be another hot day and hydration was the order of the day.
We all moved to our rides and filed out of the parking lot headed for the church, a couple of miles away. We pulled into the parking lot and grabbed our flags. It’s always tough to get a count but there were at least 100 of us there. We formed a flag line from the street to the church on both sides of the drive. I found myself standing next to a gentleman I met at Sgt. Jason Vaughn’s funeral a month before. We talked the entire time again. Some members moved down the lines with coolers making sure everyone had liquid. Another lady was walking around taking photos. They are posted here on the Patriot Guard website if you want to see them. We stood there for about an hour. Once the service started we stood down and moved back to our rides to get ready to move out to the cemetery once the service was over.
 It wasn’t too long until we were ready to head out. We let the main procession move on past and we joined in and made the drive to the cemetery. Once we got there I found a place to park the appeared to be out of the way, grabbed my flag and headed up towards the chapel were the service would be held. I got in line up close to the chapel. Everyone was making their way in and the word started getting around that the protestors had actually made it and were setup on the main road just outside of the cemetery towards town. You couldn’t see them from where we were but just knowing that they were there makes your blood boil. Why they want to hurt the family and friends of a fallen hero is beyond me. They had never heard of these people before now. It doesn’t serve any purpose.
I couldn’t hear much of what was going on in the service. Eventually the honor guard gave a 21 gun salute and taps was played. Not too long after that the service ended. The graveside part was for the family and friends only. I found a tree and grabbed some shade. As members of the military passed by I told them how much I appreciated them and that they were in my prayers daily. One lady that was in the Navy stopped and talked to me for a second. She said that they followed the Patriot Guard in the news and she and others really appreciated us and our devotion to them. I thanked her for her kind words. Also, she was a beautiful woman. Couldn’t help but notice.
I waited around for the crowd to thin out and made my way to my truck. I got home within a few hours. My thoughts during the drive home were with Will’s family and friends.
 My God give them comfort and peace. Thank you William Newman for serving our country. You paid the ultimate price and I and many other American’s will never forget.
Here are some links to other sites that have news about William.
Air Force Stories:
Air Force Link Photos
Hickam AF Base
Featured while in Iraq
Featured on Air Force Link
Other Stories in the Media:
KHNL (Honolulu)
South Cheatham Advocate
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