This section will be used for Letters of Appreciation that we have received from relatives, friends and others whom we have had the distinct honor of standing in support of. Be it a funeral, welcome home, or any other form of support, letters of apprciation are our way of showing you - the members of the SETexas PGR that there are people out there who are in support of what we do, and thank us for standing tall for their loved ones.

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You guys were amazing. Thank you so, so much for coming out to support us today. Everyone loved y'all there. Thank you, thank you, thank you !!!  Steffani and Melinda - Run for the fallen - Spring High School - April 9th, 2011.  

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 SDC McNeal,

My name is Daryl Stroud and I am a patrol sergeant for the Sugar Land Police Department.  I had the pleasure of seeing your group escort the buses into Mercer Stadium Saturday for the Impact A Hero 5k.  Quite an impressive sight.  I too am a motorcyclist, and having ridden a police bike and escorting more funerals than I care to remember, I know what "impressive" is supposed to look like, and y'all nailed it.

I have been contemplating joining PGR for a while now, and actually did register on the national site, but just finally found your site while trying to narrow the search down to this region.  I hope to make this happen soon.

Thanks again for all you do, and keep the shiny side up.

Sincerely,

Sgt. D. Stroud

Day Shift Patrol Sergeant

SLPD

June7th, 2011

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Dear Mr. Turner,

Jacks friends and I appreciated your and the Patriot Riders involvment in the Passing Through the Flags of Freedom during his funeral on June 1st, 2011.

When I found out that Jack's friend was content with having him burried in a pauper's grave instead of the Military Honors he deserved as a Veteran of the United States Army I could not, as one myself, allow this to happen. You and your organization have come through, not for us the ones left behind, but for one who has given so much during his lifetime and had the right to be remembered with all the honors and thanks due to him.

Jack's friends and I will always appreciate what you did on such short notice.

With very special thanks,

Peggy Barnett, Army Co3

Flags Flying High

June 7,2011

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From: Sherry Metcalf
Subject: Re: PGR MISSION-Sgt. Cole L Chambers, US Army-06/17/11
To: "Jerry Turner
Date: Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 10:50 PM

Jerry,

Please accept my apologies for being so late in sending this note. I signed up with the PGR a little over a year ago and have never been able to ride with the group due to pressing family matters. On Friday the 17th, I got to experience first hand what I am missing out on. Being the mother of 3 military boys, this was an exceptionally difficult service to attend. Cole Chambers was my son's best friend. They went into the Army together right out of High School, both served as Cav Scouts in Iraq (though they were with different troops), and Cole was my son's rock upon their return from Iraq. Lance has had somewhat of a difficult time returning to civilian life and the long sleepless nights are quite often more than he can bear.

When we walked up to the Church and the PGR was there with their flags, we immediately held each other's hands just a little tighter and it took everything not to burst into tears. When we got to the service at Klein's, the patriotism continued and the display of flags and honor were just simply amazing! When the flag was folded and presented to Cole's mother, and then members of the PGR spoke to her, it was impossible to maintain any kind of composure. It was the most beautiful and heart-felt presentation I've ever witnessed.

I quickly grabbed two photos when we arrived before they started taking Cole's casket down the way (Will send them under separate cover). I cannot describe how it feels to see the PGR doing what you do best nor can anyone thank you enough for the support you give our military personnel.

May God place special blessings upon you all for your dedication and love.

Sincerely,

Sherry L. Metcalf

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"Dear Patriot Guard Members,

Thank you so much for honoring the memory or our loved one, Lowell Mayrant, by participating in his sevices.  It really meant a great deal to our family and made the service at Houston Memorial even more special.

The family of Lowell Mayrant"

July 13,2011

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Date: Wednesday, July 27, 2011, 10:59 AM

My name is Mike Wells and I have had the distinct honor of experiencing the Southeast Texas Patriot Guard in action.  On July 15, 2011 my brothers (and sisters) of S.E.T PGR stood honors at the service of my father-in-law Harold Dahman, U.S. Army  veteran WWII. in Brenham, Texas.  Harold would have been embarrassed by the attention paid to his military service; but he was never the less deserving. .  He never spoke of his military service and it took some research to find out that he was on a ship as part of the intended initial invasion force of Japan.  My duties to my family prevented me from getting to know better the PGR members in attendance, but I am proud of each and every member.  You brought honor to an honorable man and you rode and stood with honor and dignity.  From the 8 a.m. escort from the funeral home to the church, to the last rumble of your exhausts,  it was a mission "well done."  On behalf of myself and Harold's family we extend a heartfelt thanks for once again answering the call.  God Bless each and every one of you.  I look forward to one day riding a mission with your group.     Mike Wells Patriot Guard Rider of North Texas American Legion Rider Post 379 Chaplain Sons of American Legion Post 379 Chaplain  "Freedom is never more than one generation from extinction"  Ronald Reagan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kp, and Puddles,

I just wanted to thank PGR for their assistance in going above and beyond with open invite on United American Riders event on Nov 3  to escort the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall. I want to personally thank Hollywood for his great help. I had worked on it for a while coordinating leos, parking and etc. It was the big deal for UAR this year.  I appreciate all the pgr help and wanted to express it to the members but did not know how. If you could pass along my appreciation and thanks to the Southeast Texas PGR members it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and thanks for all that you do.

Jerry  McGinnis

United American Riders

Ride/Events coordinator

November 6, 2011

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I was his friend and honored as his military escort.  I had heard about your organization but had never seen you in action.

Words fail me at this very difficult time as I continue to process his loss...but I felt compelled to say thank YOU for all you do...and for being there for Dave.  I hope that you can get this message to everyone who participated at Ellington Field last Wednesday and in Spring on Veterans day.

As an officer in the army...and as a physician, death and dying is something we deal with regularly, but when you lose one of those 4 or 5 guys that you can count on one hand that you truly call "FRIEND" ... it is different.  The unspoken reality of that is probably better left silent because words would fail it.  We compartmentalize and box off this entire side of things as a fallen warrior is returned to his homeland and ultimately to his family and his final resting place.  We ignore it.  We don't think about it. And we drive on.  Because mission is first and that is the way it should be.

I was selected as Dave's military escort from the unit as his friend and battle buddy.  This experience as his military escort has been profound...one that i cannot truly articulate (yet)....and will not try at this time.  From the quiet and dignified ceremony on wed morning as we boarded our airplane in Dover, i was truly overcome with sadness, with grief, AND with patriotism as I reflected on the sacrifice that dave made for all of us....and of the sacrifices of all those other patriots who you all in the PGR have served since your inception.  but I was also fearful..afraid that his memory wouldn't be honored like it should....and worried that he would be quietly celebrated without the honor and ceremony that he deserved.

I cannot begin to describe the tremendous pride and emotion that flooded over me personnally as we pulled up on the ramp at ellington field.  And as i choke back the tears that fill my eyes right now i see that formation of Patriot Guard Riders flying the colors with pride in the heavy winds on the Ellington Field Ramp as you and others welcomed him to Houston with such patriotism and dignity.  As i watched the motorcade proceed across the closed interstates through downtown Houston stretched out for what was at least a mile with your riders, it reminded me why WE in uniform do what we do and why it is so important to honor the memories of those who have died doing it.  I only wish the rest of the country could "get it" the way that you all do.

What you all are doing is truly inspired.  It is beautiful.  and i simply had to say THANK YOU for what you did for us personnally, and for honoring my good friend, Dave Cabrera with such dignified honors.  You are showing America what patriotism is through ACTION....and I for one appreciate it.

My duties continue.  I have yet to deliver Dave's ashes to his beloved wife, August next week. This will be a quiet and somber moment, but one which becomes all the more meaningful as that imagery of your colors at

Ellington fills my heart and mind.   In keeping with his wishes, Dave's

ashes will be incoporated into a reef in the Gulf of Mexico.  We are trying to get a reef named after him, and then i will be able to complete my mission as we make that final dive together to place him there in his final resting place in one of his favorite places on Earth.

As i started by saying, words fail me, but the Patriot Guard Riders of Houston have become an integral part of his memory as we say our farewells to him.  And i can only say thank you.

Keep the faith...and keep riding for your cause! Thanks Again

-LTC Justin Woodson

November 13, 2011

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Thank you so much, Corky, for organizing the great send off for Ryan.  He was absolutely floored by the whole event and is still on cloud nine.  All of us were.  The Patriot Guard Riders organization is so impressive.  To put such an event together is not easy and we send our thanks to you and the members for pulling off such a winner of a happening.  Please give my thanks to Loretta also and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

Nancy Calderon 

December 18th, 2011

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 Dear Tom and Patriot Guard Riders:

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for you and your group’s thoughtfulness in being in attendance and riding in the funeral procession for Harold Allen. You and the Patriot Guard Riders made Harold’s funeral service so special. All of our family and friends commented on how beautiful the funeral prcession and service was! We also appreciate the beautiful plaque which you presented to me on behalf of Harold and his service to our country. Thanks to all of you for your hard work and taking time out of your busy schedules to volunteer your services, not only at Harold’s service, but for all the Veterans for whom the Patriot Guard rides. We thank you and your Patriot Guard Riders for your service to our country and your continued support to your fellow Veterans.

We also appreciate very much your taking time out of your busy schedule to visit with us at Pasadena Funeral Chapel and calling us to talk about Harold and help us celebrate his life and our thanks to God that a man as good as Harold was in our lives. We miss him – his smile, his love of life and God, the way his mind worked, as he was very smart, and an embrace or kiss.

We deeply regret the dilatory manner in which you are receiving this heart-felt Thank You. There have been many business-related phone calls and much paper work has been involved regarding Harold’s death. We have traveled in the United States visiting family, and in getting away for a while from the constant reminders of Harold in the house and the area, we were able to come to the full realization of Harol’s death and were able to find closure in our grief!

Again, we thank you for everything you did to show your love for Harold and all our veterans!

With love and peace through Christ,

The family of Harold Allen

December 29th, 2011

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Dear Comrades-in-arms,

My name is Mike “Livedog2” Sadaj. Livedog2 was my “mission name” call sign. I live in the Indianapolis, Indiana Area. Donald T. Geraghty was a very good friend of mine for 35+ years. I found ya’ll in something called the “Blast Final Itinerary”. It sounds like ya’ll must have had some kind of military service for him which is what I gleaned from that “Blast Final Itinerary”.

I talked to Donald Geraghty just days before his passing and he was upbeat and positive and as he liked to say, “Taking care of the troops.” He was quite a man and one hell of a fine person. He was patriotic and served our country well. I just wanted to write to ya’ll and express my heartfelt gratitude for what you did for him in terms of his final plans for his final patrol. I want to acknowledge each of you by name that I can identify from the “Blast Final Itinerary”. So, I want to thank KP McNeal, Randy Swain, Chuck Collum, and the names of any others that participated in the military sendoff you gave my friend and comrade Donald T. Geraghty. He would have been so proud of what you did for him. And, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you did for “the Monsignior’s” final sendoff.

I have included a couple of photos that might interest ya’ll. DSC_0008 is Donald and me. The one on the right is him and I’m the other. Then there is DSC_0027 which is Donald in the community room at his apartment complex. I always called it the “Day Room”. These were taken around the Christmas Season of 2008. I thought it might be nice to see us alive and put a face with the very fine ceremony you provided “the Monsinor.”

In closing I would like to make a toast to all of you, Donald T. Geraghty and me and that toast is to “Absent comrades.” AVE ATQUE VALE (Hail and Farwell), Donald T. Geraghty!

Fraternally,

Michael Sadaj

Semper Fi

Vietnam ’65-’66 and ’67-‘68

January 20,2012

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The family of Guinn Rasbury would like to thank the Patriot Guard Riders for their participation in his funeral service on January 21, 1012.  Guinn was proud to be a Marine veteran of WWII.  A military funeral was his desire and the addition of your riders as escorts made this difficult time even more special to his family and friends.  It was quite emotional to walk through the line of flags to his burial spot and know that his contribution to our nation's freedom was meaningful to not only us but others as well.  Thank you for all that your group does to respect the honor of all those who risked their lives for our freedom and security.

Family of Guinn Rasbury

SANDY CLEVELAND, daughter

Jan 31, 2012

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I just wanted to sent you an email to let you know how much the PGA and BSM means to my family. The anniversary of my sons injury is coming up soon, and if you would have asked me then if we would be were we are now I don't know how I would have answered that. It was a really hard time for my son and his family. He has come so far in his recovery from that horrible day and I am so thankful to all that were there for us. Without all of the wonderful people I really don't know where we would be right now. At a really low time in Lee's and my life I found the BSM they showed me that there were other mothers going through the same worry and emotions that I was going through and they gave  me a venue in which to give that made me feel like I was doing something to help. Through the BSM I also met the PGA group, and for them we will always be thankful. My son was in the lowest place I had ever seen him a few months ago, and I was so worried that I would not be able to help him. He didn't think that anyone cared about what he was going through or cared if he even came home alive or not. Through the welcome home ceremony on Saturday he found out first hand that just wasn't true. That family, friends, and even complete strangers were thankful for his sacrifices. For the first time since he had been home, on Sunday he was laughing and joking and finally telling us stories of things he had experienced. PGA and BSM gave that to my family and forever we will be thankful for what you did for my son and our family. I cant say enough thanks to you all. You have given my son a memorie that he will remember for the rest of his life. 

Melissa Bennett

Houston, Tx

January 23rd, 2012

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Dear Patriot Guard,

My husband and I would like to express our deepest gratitude for your service to our military and their families, especially to those who came to Katy to honor John Moore on January 14.  It was an emotional time for each of us.  Our hearts were touched to see strangers, yet brothers and sisters in the spirit of patriotism, come together to serve and honor someone.  To you he was a wounded warrior; to us he was also our precious John.  What a selfless act of appreciation and gratitude you expressed.  Your ministry is of vital importance in helping our soldiers and their families adjust to new circumstances and heal from emotional and sometimes physical wounds.  The honor and support you give by your presence is priceless.  You each are a gift of grace to those who are in need.  May our Lord strengthen each of you for the tasks He has appointed unto you and may He bless you as you minister to those in need.

With heartfelt appreciation,
Brad and Melinda Daricek

Feb. 8th, 2012

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