Steven Ray Day US Army

Steven Ray Day US Army, 1975-1979. Passed away this week at the Muskogee Veterans Administration Hospital. Today he was laid to rest at Fort Gibson National Cemetery, Ft. Gibson Oklahoma. He was 60 years Old. This Morning there was a story on the Muskogee Phoenix, about his service, he had no family and they invited people to come out for him. Scott Clifton passed t...

he information to me and we both put it on Facebook. I agreed to meet Scott at the Cemetery and post Flags for the service. Chuck Tyler also said he would be there, at least 3 would be in attendance for our Brother in Arms.
When I arrived at the cemetery Scott was already and another biker, “Dusty” soon Dusty’s Brother-in-law arrived, and Chuck followed. I had checked with the office and they had arranged for the American Legion out of Muskogee to provide “Honors”. Another Biker named Gerald arrived to join us and the six of us headed for the pavilion to stake flags. After the flags were out we visited while waiting. The Honor Guard arrived, and their leader came over and explained that they were 3 men short and Invited us to join them on the Rifle Team. Chuck, Gerald and “The Brother-in-Law” volunteered. Levi also made the trip to join us as the services were starting.
As the Coach arrived with our Hero, we volunteered to be Pall Bearers, and since there were only 3 Chuck came over to assist us. We carried Steven Ray to his place of Honor and assumed stations at the Flags. There were a few folks from the Muskogee in attendance and the VA Chaplain performed “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” to open the service. As time came, the Legion fired the 3 volleys, and played taps. Our Newbie Rifle Team members in Leather, did a great job, I was impressed with what they had learned in a few short minutes. The Legion then Folded the Flag and laid it upon the Coffin.
The reporter that had written the story, was in attendance, He and I were talking and I explained, that Steven Ray Day, did indeed have Family and he was surrounded by them. He had many Brothers there for him today. After the service, the Reporter came up to thank us for what we had done. He said it is niot often he offered thanks doing a story but wanted us to know he was impressedwith what he had witnessed today.
This is one of those missions that will never be forgotten, Steven Ray Day will live forever in the Hearts of those in attendance today.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

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Mission Accomplished with No Mission

     Sometimes we get notification of a pending mission, and then it just doesn’t work out. This happened starting last Wednesday when the National President sent an email to the Regional captains of South Central, and Dixie Region.  Seems a Lady in Oklahoma had a problem and she needed some advice.  Her Father a Korea Era Veteran, had been living in the Philippines, and had passed away.  His “Girlfriend” in the PI, had already had him cremated, before his family knew of his passing, and wanted his personal property before she would ship the remains to the family. In effect she was holding him hostage.  The daughter contacted the US Embassy in Manila and it took her two months but the urn was collected and shipped to America.   In the process the paperwork and urn were lost en route at separate times.  When the lady contacted the Patriot Guard Riders her Father was sitting on a supervisor’s desk in Miami, at a package express company and they were trying to decide the best way to ship the urn to Oklahoma.

       The regional Captains informed the State Captains of the states that might be involved in a Pony Express” run to get this Hero from Florida to Oklahoma. Every State Captain stepped up to organize the run if needed. Within 20 Minutes, every state including some not on the route, had said Lets do this, let’s bring him home.

   Al in Florida, volunteered to get the Urn from the Shipping Company and bring it to the Georgia State Line, and we were working out the schedule in case it was needed.  We had to wait until Monday for the Daughter to contact the shippers, and see what they were going to do. She had already been promised delivery last week, and was unhappy with how things were going.  On Monday she was again promised delivery by Tuesday, but on Tuesday the Urn was still in Miami.  On Wednesday, she contacted them and was informed they had be sent to Tulsa, and a private company would be delivering them by 1800 hours.  The delivery did take place on Wednesday evening, but not before United Airlines managed to loose him yet again.  The driver of the Private courier hired to deliver to the daughter, had waited for hours for the urn and she did not leave until they found it, she made them find it and then drove to McAlester to make the delivery. The name of the courier that made sure she got the Hero home, Freedom Express!!!

      I was thrilled to find out that the Hero had arrived, and thought it was over until I opened my email tonight. I am using her words to let you all know what happened::

 

I just wanted to tell you a funny story. Laurice from the Embassy called at 2 am this morning and told me why TNT shipped so quickly and did not call me. I had told an executive of TNT that I had contacted your organization and that you were going to relay him to me, state by state, since they were not able to ship him. Well your organization is the reason why they shipped him! They were afraid the press would get wind of this because it was a state by state relay and your organization is massive and it would possibly be on every station before it was all over and they did not need the bad PR. So I have to say thank you again, you did get my Dad home after all.

 

So although we did not get to do the “Pony Express”, I am Proud to be with a group that did not hesitate to jump right in and do what was needed to help the family of a veteran.  I had made contact with some of the Ride Captains I would have needed and they too were ready to get this done.