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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: Fri 20 Jun 2008
 DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. 1st Class Gerard M. Reed, 40, of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., died June 11 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 86th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Campbell, Ky.
Reed earned the Army Commendation Medal seven times, the Army Achievement Medal nine times and was given the Army Good Conduct Medal five times.
 It had been almost a year since I was able to attend a mission. We’ve been busy at work and most missions seemed to be during the week or too far a way on the weekend. I was able to take off work and I decided to go.
SFC Reed was 40 and had joined the Army in 1985. According to the news, he was planning to retire after this tour and become a preacher. My dad served for 24 years, his last two in Vietnam. After he retired he became a Minister of Music and later a pastor and psychologist. I can’t imagine how different my life would be if my dad hadn’t made it home from Vietnam. I feel so bad for his wife and son. I’ll remember them often and pray for them.
I left Brighton about 6:30. It’s about a 3 and a half hour drive to Clarksville. I went up I-40 and caught Hwy 48 at Dickson. It’s about 50 more miles from there to Clarksville. I got there a little after 10:00. I found my way to the Greater Missionary Baptist Church where the other PGR’s were already there. They had escorted the Sgt from the funeral home to the church earlier. I grabbed my flag and joined the flag line.
I made it 11 of us there. Kind of a small turnout but it was a weekday. We stood there for the next 40 minutes or so, watching his friends come into the church. Being so close to Ft Campbell there were many soldiers there. Around 10 till, the family arrived. The service started soon afterwards and we stood down.
We walked back over to where the bikes had parked and they gathered up their flags. There were 3 cages and the rest of us were on bikes. It was decided that we cagers would go on ahead to the West Kentucky Veterans Cemetery so that we could stand with our flags at the entrance when they arrived. Toni, and her little dog Tink, were there in her truck. She had brought another lady with her also. I followed them to the cemetery and we sat around and talked. I hadn’t seen Toni and Tink in over a year. Noon rolled around and Toni tried to call one of the PGRs that stayed at the church. No answer. So we decided to go on and move to the entrance to be ready. After about 20 minutes or so, cars started pulling into the cemetery. Eventually, someone from the cemetery came out to let us know that there was another funeral at 13:00. Sgt Reed’s funeral wasn’t until 14:00. So we went back to our vehicles to wait.
 The ladies decided to eat some yogurt and healthy stuff. I made a quick trip to Wendy’s and got a Frosty for my lunch. We waited a while until we got the word that they were on their way. We went back out to the entrance and got on both sides of the drive. It wasn’t long until we saw them top the hill. They slowly made their way into the cemetary. We waited until the last came through before we made our way back over to our vehicles. The ladies had to leave and I drove up to the area for the services. By the time I made it to the other PGRs, Sgt. Reed’s casket had already been taken from the hearse into the open air chapel. I joined the flag line and we stood away from the crowd bluging from the chapel. We usually stand far enough back, not to intrude on the family, that we can’t hear the speakers very well. The honor guard did the 21 gun salute followed by taps. Then I could see through the crowd that the Flag was being folded and was presented to his wife.
The service ended soon afterwards. The crowd started breaking up and I made my way back to the truck. I slowly made my way out to the highway and headed south towards Dickson and Interstate 40. It took about 4 hours to get home but it was worth every minute of my day. I won’t forget SFC Gerard Reed’s selfless service to our country. Not by his choice, but he paid the ultimate price for his service. Thank God for American’s like Gerard who volunteer to defend us.
Standing by ...
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