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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: Sun Oct 15 2006
 The Department of Defense announced the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Capt. Robert M. Secher, 33, of Germantown, Tenn., died Oct. 8 from wounds received while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar province, Iraq.
He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor on November 7, 2007.
 I heard about Captain Secher’s funeral on the local news Wednesday. According to his father he joined the Marines when he was 17 years old. It was reported that he was killed by sniper fire. Thursday night I got the email confirming that we were invited. Friday morning we got a Stand Down email. It seems that we weren’t invited after all. After the Nascar race Saturday night I checked my email. Another email was waiting saying that this was a confirmed mission. It seems there was some miscommunication and we were always invited after all. I decided that I could make it anyway. I would meet the group at the Israel Temple a little before noon.
I got up early and went disc golfing with Mike, my friend. Yes I do have one or two. He beat me in both rounds. Neither of us played well today. Once we got through I went home and grabbed my stuff and headed into Memphis. Germantown is actually on the Northeast edge of Memphis. It took about 45 minutes to get there.
I was the first PGR there. The temple is huge and very secluded. There was already many cars in the parking lot so I picked a spot near what appeared to be the main entrance and started getting my flags put together. There was a lot of activity at the entrance I was near and people started coming out and leaving.  I decided to just stand by my truck and wait for the group to show. They met earlier at Bumpus Harley Davidson. They rode to the funeral home and were to escort Captain Secher’s body to the temple.
I waited about 10 or 15 minutes and I heard a low rumble coming. The escorts started coming in the long driveway and I started walking towards another entrance where some people had come out. That’s were the hearse pulled up and stopped. I saw Mad Dog, our ride captain, and the other riders pull in. I went over to where they were parking. There were only 10 of us! All the miscommunication had taken it’s toll. Over my 4 previous missions the minimum attendees has been 50, nearly 200 in Laurel on my first mission. At least some of us were there. I talked to Mad Dog for a second and we all moved closer to the hearse. We first staged between the doors and the hearse but a Marine came over and asked if we would move outside. They’re paying their honors and tributes to their friend and comrade. We will stand wherever they ask. So we moved out on the driveway.
 The weather was nice. Overcast and upper 60’s. Kind of a dreary day. It fitted the mood. Many of the family and friends stopped by and thanked us for coming. As always, it’s totally our honor. Some Marines came over also. I assumed they were friends of Captain Secher. My heart was breaking for them all. It’s always an honor and a privilege to meet our brave soldiers. It’s terrible that it’s under these circumstances. I always try to tell a few of them how much a respect and appreciate their service. After the family arrived, the pallbearers brought Captain Secher’s body out of the hearse and into the temple. We saluted with our flags. Veterans gave a hand salute and us civi’s put our hand over our hearts. 
The cars just kept pouring in. The service was supposed to start at 1300 hours. At 10 till you still couldn’t see the end of the line of cars coming into the parking lot. 20 minutes later and everyone was in and the service had begun. The rumor was that over 1000 people attended the service. We stood down and found a place to sit and talk. The plan had been that half of us would go ahead to the cemetery to man the front entrance with flags. But with only 10 of us, Mad Dog decided to send just two of us. Since I knew how to get there, he picked me and another rider, Lee Bauer. They told us the service would last about 45 minutes. So we sat and talked for about 30 minutes and Lee and I headed out to the cemetery.
 It’s only about a 10 minute drive to the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery. It’s just north of 385 on Forrest Hill-Irene. Once we pulled onto Forrest Hill we could see a couple of fire trucks down the road. One of them had there ladder extended with a big American flag hanging from it. Once we got there and parked I could see that it was the Germantown Fire Dept. A few of them were wearing their dress uniforms and obviously were there to show their respect as well. Lee and I stood on each side of the driveway and began our wait for them to arrive. The Shelby County Sheriffs were there and some older vets also, I believe the American Legend. Some of them came over and talked. One man said this was the 60th funeral he has attended this year! Iraqis better step up and take what our brave men and women have already paid for. Not to mention other coalition forces. We don’t have many friends anymore, but the few we have our loyal. They understand the cost of freedom and the threat that freedom is under in our world today.
I saw the funeral escort bikes appear down the road. As they got close a Fire Officer commanded her guard to attention. Lee and I came to attention also. It is so sad watching the hearse and the family come by. Another brave American is gone. It’s up to us to remember and carry on. The line of cars was long. It took about five minutes to get them all in. Once they were in Lee said he was going to ride his bike on in. It was a couple of 100 yards to the pavilion. I had parked my truck in the turn around drive at the gate. I asked a deputy if I could leave it there. Sure. So I started walking.
 I joined the other PGR members a little away from the group. You can’t hear hear anything you just sort of take it all in, reflect and say a prayer for the family and friends. I could hear that someone was talking inside. Then the pallbearers moved to the back of the hearse and moved the Captain into the pavilion. After a few minutes the Marine honor guard was called to attention and then salute. They gave their 3 volley, 21 gun salute followed by taps. Although I couldn’t see, they folded the flag and presented to his father. Then they brought Robert back out and into the hearse. There was to be a private graveside service for family and close friends only. After a minute or two the family started coming out. Mr. Secher came over, with the flag in clutched to his chest, and shook a few of our hands including mine. He told me Thank you for coming. I told him that I would never forget his son’s sacrifice and his name. We continued to stand by until all the family was in their cars and they pulled off.
As the other guests started to head back to their cars, a couple of the stopped and talked to us. They were impressed, for lack of a better word, that people that didn’t know Robert at all had come to pay respects to him. We all owe him and thousands more everything. Without out them, America would surely have fallen under the tremendous weight of world tyranny over the last century. Today’s warriors are no different than those who fought at Iwo Jima or Bastogne. They will give all wherever they are told to go to defend freedom.
 I will honor my promise to Mr. Secher. Every morning when I put out the flag I say a quick prayer. I pray for our country, our leaders, all our troops, and by name the families of the heroes whose funerals I had the honor of attending. Sgt McSwain, Pfc Edgin, Cpl Murray & Cpt Secher. I know about the family side of the military, my dad served for 24 years. I’ll always remember these heroes, in particular, and their families for the rest of my life.
As long as I am able, I will attend any service I can to honor our fallen heroes. Standing by,
Update:
On November 7, 2007 there was a ceremony held in Memphis at the Marine Reserve Center to award Captain Secher’s family the Bronze Star with Valor for his service. He was cited for leading or serving in more than 200 combined convoys and 50 mounted and dismounted combat patrols in the heart of the Sunni insurgency. The Bronze Star is the fourth-highest award for bravery. I was able to take a late lunch and attend this ceremony. I haven’t forgotten him or his family and was proud to be able to attend. I met his mother and talked with her. She is so proud of her son, as she should be. It was a wonderful ceremony.
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