US Army Veteran Mike Elmore Westville OK.

     Amanda and I left the house and stopped by the fire station to talk to Bob. He had arranged to have 2 fire vehicles for traffic control on this local mission.  After that we headed to Kwik Kountry for ice to keep the water cold. Amanda decided to grab minutes for Robyn,s phone, and wound up in a lot of confusion, seem AT&T Changed the way to put minutes on the pre paid phones, instead of buying a card and pushing in the code, they asked for the phone number and then the minutes went straight to the phone leaving Amanda with a confusing reciept. Well we got that straight, and headed to Triple SSS Country store/cafe for staging.  We got out and someone mentioned my tire was going low. Well Crud, the valve stem had cracked and had a slow leak. Amanda aired up the tire and headed back home to change rigs.
  At Staging I was happy to see 4 new members, Shortwave II had brought a friend, and we had a new couple caging it. I am terrible with names, but the guys were Stan and Ken, can't remember the couples name. Will learn them as we go along I guess. Also at Staging was an old friend Nick, He had gotten into an accident leaving a mission a few months ago but is recovering well and this was his first mission back. Great to see how good he was doing.
      Our mission today was to escort the Family and the cremains from the Family home to Mission Baptist Cemetery for services.  At the prescribed time Bob and Derrick with the Fire rigs led the bikes to the family home. I waited for Amanda as she was just down the street, and we followed the rest. 
     At the home Bob and I discussed things with the family. They wanted us to transport Mike to the cemetery and present the container to his son.  The son would also get the flag and plaque, and Mikes Mom would get the Invocation. 
     It was time to go, I went to the intersection in Amanda's minivan and blocked the eastbound lane then got out and stood across the intersection blocking the west bound lane. Bob Led out with Derrick following and then the bikes, cages and family cars. I jumped in on the tail.
     At Highway 59 Derrick used the fire truck to block the southbound traffic, and Bob led us to the cemetery where he then blocked northbound for the turn into the cemetery. Gray and the Rogers Honor Guard were waiting at the cemetery to give Mike honors. They were short handed so Frank Lee did the Bugle with canned taps for them.
     Mike was in the command vehicle, and Bob Flanked by 2 flag bearers, (Chuck and another guy)
prepared to carry the container to the grave site. I went ahead and prepared to receive the container and present it to the son.  Bob and the others marched up to me, where I saluted the urn, and reached out to receive it, Bob presented me the urn and gave a slow Hand Salute. I turned to the son and presented him the urn and another salute. He took the urn and placed it by the grave.
     At this point all were just standing there, I looked around and ask "Is the Preacher Here?" and the Preacher stepped forward, Gary instructed him to signal the Honor Guard when he as finished so they could do their part.  I have been to quite a few services and heard long winded preachers, but my Friends this was not one of them. He read the 29 psalms, said a few words, and he signaled the Honor Guard. After Honors, Gary presented the son with the burial flag, and Larry and I stepped froward with the Plaque, and invocation. I presented the plaque, and Larry did his first Invocation presentation, we saluted the family, did an about face and saluted Mikes Urn, and walked off.
  At this point, everybody was just standing there, I was finished, so I turned to the Preacher hoping he would do a closing Prayer. he just said nothing so I stepped out and ask "Does anyone in the Family want to say anything?" no one did so I said "well that concludes our ceremony thank everyone for being here to Honor Mike" And dismissed my Flag line.
    It was an unusual mission to say the least, but every one did their part great, and it was a good mission. Thank You to all the Riders for being their and always remember "Semper Gumby"

Donald Anderson July 12 2011

   The mission for Donald Anderson was going to kick off a very busy week for me with the PGR. We already had another mission later that afternoon in Westville.  Mr Anderson was escorted from the Tulsa area to Ft. Gibson National, as usual our group staged at McDonald's in Ft. Gibson, Today was interesting because we had a PGR Member from Alabama join us he was in Oklahoma visiting relatives and wanted to hook up to meet the brothers and sisters here in our area. After briefing, I headed to the cemetery to stake flags, and Bob took the riders to  our usual intercept point.
     At the cemetery, we had an unusual situation, 3 honor guard units. 2 active duty and one VFW. The 2 active discussed it and decided which of them was going to fold the flag, and the other left. Then the VFW arrived and the Ladies from the National Guard worked with them to give Mr. Anderson his Military Honors. The VFW did the rifle salute, and Taps, and the Active folded the flag.
      After the ceremonies there 2 cages and 10 bikes headed to Westville for another mission in the hot sun. We "Staged" at the Dairy Bar, and had lunch and a cool down time until time to go to the Chapel. I went a bit early and staked flags in front of the funeral chapel, and readied other flags for the rider to use in the flaglline.