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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 15 Jul 2006
 The Department of Defense announced the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Pfc. Kevin F. Edgin, 31, of Dyersburg, Tenn., died on July 6 in Baghran Valley, Afghanistan, when his convoy encountered enemy small arms fire. Edgin was assigned to the Army’s 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y
Bronze Star Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
View the Photo Gallery of this Mission
 Thursday I saw that Pfc Edgin’s funeral had been set for Saturday, I knew that I was going. Newburn is just outside of Dyersburg. Just straight up Hwy 51 about 55 miles. I asked my son, Cody, if he wanted to go. He said sure. When I went to work Friday I asked my friend Ron if he saw the scheduled mission. He said he was going also. We decided that he’d leave midtown Memphis around 0630 and get to Brighton H.S. a little after 7. We’d be there waiting for him and follow him to Walmart in Dyersburg, our staging area. Walmart donated lots of water to the group. Thanks. Cody and I brought our own also.
Cody and I went and had breakfast, picked up some sunscreen and returned to the staging area around 0915. Briefing time was 0945. After meeting and greeting I saw Jere "Trog" and Carmen pull up on his trike. Trog was the ride captain on my first mission in Laurel, MS. It was great to see them again. Too bad it’s for this reason.
We all gathered around the front bikes and Bill Van Sant gave us our mission briefing.
We would head over to the High School in Newbern and form a flag line out in front. As the family and friends came in to attend the funeral they drove past our tribute to Pfc Edgin. After the service we would join the escort for our hero to the cemetery. Some of us would leave a little early and go on to the cemetary. We would form a flag line at the entrance for the hearse and family. Before the briefing was over he read the PGR mission statement reinforcing that we are non protestors. If protestors show up, we ignore them. If you can’t do that, don’t ride with us.
 Everyone broke up and headed for their rides. There were well over 100 PGR members there. The local police were there to give us an escort to the high school. We streamed out of the parking lot and made the less than 10 mile ride. Most local drivers pulled over as we passed by. During the whole day, the locals were very respectful. They knew what was happening and the made me proud. Small town America is still America’s patriotic strong hold.
We got to the HS and formed our line wrapping around the front driveway. The family invited around 30 members to join them inside. 33 went in and left 83 of us outside. Cody and I stayed outside. I wanted us to leave with the early crew and head over to the cemetery to show our respect there.
After 30 to 45 minutes the service started and we went back to our rides. We grabbed some water and some shade. It was close to 100 degrees, pretty hot. Cody and I talked to Mad Dog. He was one of the ride captains. After a few minutes he said that he had to go on over to the cemetery with the advance team. We told him that we wanted to go. He said no problem. We hopped in the truck and staged up with the others.
The cemetery was only a few miles away. I let the bikes go first and joined in behind them. As we headed there, locals pulled over and waited at stop signs for us to move on through. It didn’t take long to get there. We pulled into a church driveway and parked in the grass. Cody and I grabbed our flags and a fresh bottle of water. I hollered if anyone needed water they can help themselves. We followed the group across the road to the cemetery to form our flag line.
Trog organized us and went over the protocols. He told us about the different flag positions used by an honor guard as they passed. We gathered under the shade of a tree nearby and talked for about 5 or 10 minutes. The Army’s Honor Guard arrived and began to setup. Trog went over and talked with them. Seeing them reminded me of my father’s funeral in 2002. After serving 24 years active duty and two tours in Vietnam, he told us that he deserved an honor guard and expected it. We made sure he got it.
Then we saw the hearse come around the bend in the road a couple of hundred yards away. We split up to cover both sides of the road entering the cemetery and formed our flag line. As the hearse passed we lowered our flags and the veterans saluted while us civi’s covered our hearts. Seeing his flag draped coffin in the back as they drove by moved me deeply. The commitment of this brave American filled me with a huge swell of pride and thankfulness. Kevin Edgin will not be forgotten. I’m not saying that just talking about me, I know that most of the PGR that was there will not forget him. After Kevin passed by we returned our flags to their upright position. I lowered my eyes and prayed for God to give his family and friends strength in this terrible hour of their lives. As tears welled in my eyes, I didn’t really look up again until the vehicles quit moving past.
 Trog gave us the word to move over to another area for the service. We lined against another drive about 70 feet from the graveside tent. From our position I really couldn’t see or hear much. I did hear the commander of the guard start giving orders for the 21 gun salute. After the salute "Taps" was played and our great Flag was folded and presented to the family. The attendees started to leave. It was really hot. Cody had to move to some shade during the ceremony. As the family drove by in their car, they rolled down the window and thanked us as they moved by. What can you say? All I could do is nod my head and say it was my honor. We stayed and held our flags until the family had left and most of the others had moved away from the grave.
We moved back to the church and got everything stowed away for our trips home. I took a picture of the grave from the church and got a picture of Trog and Carmen. We said goodbye and headed our ways.
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