PGR - Silver Star Service Banner Presentation

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PGR was on a mission to support  Silver Star Service Banner Presentation to Brian and Jennifer Jergens.    It was an honor to attend and asking The Good Lord to Lay a Healing Hand on them.

We staged outside the gate at Moffett Field and it was a great showing!  I'll guess 35 scoots and many cages.  Thank all that attended for this worthy mission.  Buzz (RC) and Anita talking to a friend.

We even had fire support!  We had 2 trucks attend.

Pics of the group...

Buzz was about to give mission instructions.

Brother Chappi center taking pics.

Chris (Squeezer) and Cliff arrived, I gave Cliff my freeway speed capable flag.  I've had it a long time, bought it on a mission thinking I might use it some day, and he needed another flag, so off it went!

Long ride, almost a mile!  GBG  and we are lining up for the presentation.

I'm trying to get all the folks, takes 3 pics..

OK, 4,  family and friends on sidewalk.  And more to my right I missed.

Buzz had all the bystanders move into the circle, they were behind us, and this was for them, we like to be in the background.

The Silver Star Service Banner mounted...  The guy on the right was looking at his boy who was playing behind the bushes.  Great ride and an honor to stand for this hero.      Many thanks to the folks that made this happen.

PGR - Russell Nelson US Air Force Veteran

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Link to Russell's PGR mission thread:  USAF Russell Nelson

PGR was asked to escort Russell Nelson to SJNC at Santa Nella for services, and it was an honor.  Thanks to Russell's family for inviting us.

I arrived at the staging area in San Jose, Rudy's truck in front of my Sweet Ruby.

At the far end of the scoot line, is Buzz's nice looking scoot, he had just got it back after some work.  Lookin' great!

I got to ride tail gunner behind a nice lookin' scoot that I could follow easily.

The group visiting, the guy on the left brought donuts... I spell them do not.. sigh. 

He asked me if I wanted in a pic, and I said sure, I'm not in many, wrong side of the camera.

It's time to start the mission and 4 of us were pallbearers.

Walking by the honor flag line.

Getting ready for the journey.  Hearse driver watching.

The trip was fairly uneventful, we got to dance with some traffic, but that is normal.  Interesting, the family arrives behind us, they saw the escort and just fell in behind us.  Very nice for them!

Buzz was turning off some flashers for a rider.

The rest of the line...  A family member tried, without success, to get out of the pic.

From the head of the line, Cliff's SUV.  We saw his signature on the way into SJNC, the fences were lined with flags, very nice!  I don't think he will do it again tho, it was a farmers fence, not SJNC, and he called them to say "get them down!!"  Don't know why, but he did relent and let us get them after the mission, glad he did.  I stopped with Cliff on the way out and helped him gather his flags.

What the escort looked like going down the road.

You can see the family lining up behind us, as more arrived.

This an interesting pic, look at the flag on top of the hill... Dead sock flag, no wind, and that is unusual for this area, and it was warm also!  Had the same thing happen a day before up in SVNC Dixon, no wind, again very unusual

Rest of the cars.

Of course, after a 1.5 hour ride, a trip to the facilities is in order,  on the way out I noticed a display with someone sitting on a park bench looking at it, so took a pic.

We head out to the committal shelter and prepare for the service.

The Honor Guard ready and waiting.

No pics of the service, I won't do that without family permission.  The family joined us after the service to chat and thank us for Honoring Russell. 

The asked the one question we love to hear, "can I have a picture with the group?"  Well, ahem, we "forced" ourselves!  GBG (Great Big Grin)  It was truely an honor and Russell's wife read many great comments during the service.  He lived a very Blessed Life!!!  

Thank all that rode and ride safe! 

PGR - NAVY Veteran Jeffery Nokyos

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Link to PGR post:   Jeffery Nokyos PGR link.

PGR was asked to stand in honor of Jeffery and an honor it was,  thank you for the invite.

We had a new Ride Captain (RC) step up, Chris Wagner and thank your for taking this mission!  Very much appreciated to see new folks step forward.  Pretty uneventful mission, we were asked to stand the flag line as family and friends arrived.

I told Chris that all missions are different, and this one fit right in...  The mission was extended to wait for the service to exit, and we normally do this.  The difference was the length of service.

Jeffery was very much loved and many folks stepped forward to say good words and the service lasted for about 2 hours.  The VFW Honor Guard had to get seats for the waiting, and it was a warm day.  

I arrive before staging and many had already arrived.  Here in front of the Funeral Home.

And here comes Rudy for a warm greeting!  He rides for many missions.

Our RC on the left Chris visiting with a friend.

Nova coming back from a walk.

Here is my good friend from C.R.O.S.S.  MC group.  The scoot with the orange flames on black tank is a custom and easy to spot.   I've ridden many times with him and his group, unfortunately, also for the Kieth Wander mission, sigh....  Link to my short blog, but I had his scoot pic:   Capt, Keith Wander

Unfortunately, sr moment and can't come up with the name, his sister is Jeffery's wife,  so the honor mission extended to him.  Sorry for your families loss!

Getting ready to line up..

Oretty good showing for mid week.

Nova and Chris talking about the mission.

One of the Clergy came out for a visit.

One of the VFW Honor Guards came out to visit, they were staged on the right side.

Another pic of Chris....  Thank you all that attended! You make a difference!  Ride safe.

PGR - John Cavanagh, USAF, Vietnam Veteran - good friend

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Link (may take a few seconds to load, to PGR threadl:  USAF John Cavanagh and Good Friend

-------------------- Late update, included professional photographers pics at the bottom.  -------------  Below dividing line ---------------------

One of our Vietnam Vets passed, this time it was a good friend, had many happy Friday afternoons after work having a couple beers and lots of laughs...  Miss Ya my friend!!  Prop the gates open for us, cause we will have to sneak in!!! GBG  (Great Big Grin)

I asked my buddy Jim Odell to make a request to Johnny's wife Dee to see if she would be kind enough to allow PGR to escort Johnny to his resting place, and she did.   Thank you very much for allowing us to attend!!  It was an honor to see my good friend off, and for the family to see how this country feels about our vets.

And I have to say our Sacramento PGR contingent did an outstanding job!!  Nothing but accolades!  From the family, I didn't know,  flawless escort, outstanding, and one comment from my friend Jim, unbelievable!  

It's what we do, it is appreciated, and we know it.  Until you've been on the receiving end of a mission, you can't image the effect you have on loved ones.  I've ridden for years, but a couple have been real close to my heart!  Thank you for what you do!  God Bless and ride safe! 

Let me start out with  my favorite pic:

All of us at our favorite Friday afternoon fun place, about 10 years ago,  John in the red shirt:

And one more with Paul in the pic...

 

And on to the blog.....

I arrived early and had to "take care of some business", it was a 2 hour ride and needed a break at the office.  They've done a lot of work here,  when I attended the cemetery dedication many years ago, it was just a couple trailers.

Notice the flag pole behind Ruby?  Dead sock, and that is NOT normal for this area!

Got back out to the entrance, where I wanted to meet Johnny's family and escort, I had chatted with the folks waiting for a bit before going to the office.

Closer shot, I went up and thanked them all for attending my friends service!

Sacramento Valley National Cemetery 5810 Midway Rd Dixon, Ca. 

Nice quiet neighborhood...

The Ride Captain (RC) Mickey Giacomo coming in to establish parking arrangements.  Thank you my friend for doing this and thank all that rode..  We had 27 scoots, 2 cages and an outstanding showing for Johnny's family!!!

And here comes Johnny's family and the escort, best my cheap camera could do..

 

At staging, they have two parking zones and two committal shelters for services.  They run them with military precision.

The escort scoots front, I couldn't get them all in in one shot...

Back, and then the ones leading the family.

Those folks..  They do a great job, have CB radio communication, the RC tells the tailgunner I want to change lanes, and the tailgunner works the escort and no one notices how it works... it is smooth and simple, an art!  Thank you all for what you do!

The family, Son Jim, John and wife Janine and Jim Odell, Dee is in taking care of paperwork at the office.  John has a daughter Jennifer overseas and could not make it.

I get to be in my favorite position, tailgunner for the final ride. Jim O car front of me.

The office folks have to make sure and tag Johnny.

Dee holding Johnny with son Jim.

The family waiting for the final escort.   Notice the flag is moving a bit? 

We get to the committal shelter, the escorts went ahead and established a flag line for the family to walk thru.

The escort scouts on the far side.

Jimmy watching the procession.

This is what the families see as they walk in for final services. This is what your family will see after you pass....  Think about it!  

Assistant RC Bill Waits and professional photog on the right, and I'll get a CD of his pics.

The Honor Guard, they will get Johnny and his flag out of the white SUV on the left.

And into the committal shelter.

The RC watching the movement, getting ready for flanking the shelter.

The RC in the middle has told folks to split and surround the committal shelter to honor the family.

On the right....

and left.

The flag they took in has to be unfolded fully, taps and vets salute, civilians place hands over heart and all that can stand.

Taps, always haunting.   Don't want to bust any bubbles, but look inside the instrument, it has an insert, it is electronic, sigh...

All saluting.

Taps are over and time to refold the flag to be presented to Dee.

Jimmy on the right and family in front.

They are finishing folding the flag.  I'm sure Johnny, right behind them, is watching!

On the left side...  it is nice to look outside the shelter and see all those flags!!!

I was talking to Jimmy, after the family went to put Johnny in his final resting place, and took a pic out towards the road... took three shots to get them all in....

I took one final shot... Johnny's family visiting after placing Johnny home for eternity.  God Bless Ya my friend!!! Remember, prop the gates open!!!  We need all the help an insider can give us!!! 

'til we meet again......  

                                   --------- Pro's Pics -------------------

The pics start at the Commitment Center where John's service was held.  I bypassed the prep and early pics as most have them on CD.  Not any text, just pics.