PGR Member Mike Meltzer Celebration of Life

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PGR was asked to stand in honor of one of our own.   Mike was only 51 and passed due to illness much too early.  God Bless family and friends during this time of passing.

Mike's friend, who he called a brother, Dave Scott made the request and was very happy to see us attend.  He had an unusual request for a PGR Challenge Coin...  I just happened to have one, and ashamed to say I took reimbursement, can't afford all these pins, etc.   He was very happy to have the coin to present to Mikes widow Sue. 

When I arrived, there were 3 scoots there and it turns out that none of us knew who had the one on the left.  Roy's in front and Joe's in rear.

Sweet Ruby looking fine as always.

I tried to take a pic of a photo of Mike holding a PGR flag at an airport reception of a fallen hero.

Roy, Joe, Dave Scott, and the Cranky dude!   Dave told many stories about Mike and apparently they both lived exciting lives!  Dave was in the Green Berets.

We stayed a little over an hour and were about to leave, Roy in front and Joe. Thank you both for being there  It only takes a few of us to make an impact!

PGR - 2cd Anual Travis Layfield Golf tournament

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Second annual golf tournament  for a fallen hero, God Bless family and friends of Travis Layfield.

Our first:  http://pgrblogseries2009.blogspot.com/2010/04/pgr-1-st-annual-travis-layfield-golf.html

The weather was MUCH better and hope all the players had a great day!  Envious of the winner of the Nissan Altima, don't know who it was but it is a great car!

The Honor Guard ready to move...

 

Walking in, first hello was James Brown center.

They has some Raiderettes, and always a pleasure.  They are quite well educated and very talented plus the obvious qualities!  GBG James Brown and Skip getting a hug.  

More pics.. Richard A Pittman, Medal Of Honor on the left. To the last pic....

Our Gold Star Mom, Dianne Layfield, God Bless Ya and thank you for being here!  Getting a hug from Richard.

Mike and Susanne A with Richard.  Skip, Doug and Dianne in the background...

The Raiderettes chatting with one of our Blue Star Moms.

Richard taking a pic with a golfer in front of Travis's honor poster.

Sgtmaj Doug giving us our say once about the tournament.

Just some of the crowd....  getting ready to Tee off.

We have a theme here with the pics, everyone wanted in!  And why not?  Ok, I was behind the camera...  sigh....

Sweet Ruby flying 'er flag very nice!

The MIA/POW Vet, real nice!!!

The theme was flags, and very nice!!  Lot's of work!!!

Everywhere!

Did I say flags?   GBG

OK, I like 'um!

All he way up the drive way!

James and Doug chatting...  

The group had Tee'd off and I'd had a chef salad, and on I went.  Thanked Doug and I hope the tournament was a huge success!   At least the weather was MUCH better!

PGR - WW II Navy Lt. Benny Lavon Smith

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One of our greatest generation has passed and PGR was asked to ride in honor, and an honor it was!  The family was very friendly and welcomed us warmly!  Thank you for asking us and God Bless!  Please celebrate the good life lived.

It was a great service and that he was loved was very evident.  Healing  Prayers for family and friends during this time of passing.

We had Sons and grand sons riding with us in the procession, great on 'um!  They were very proud and loved our hero.

 

A shot of most of the scoots, a few came in later, I believe we had almost 2 dozen scoots.  Great showing!  Thanks to all that showed and stood the honor line.

I always say all  missions are different, and today was no different.  There was no RC (Ride Captain) assigned, and a few of us old timers were getting nervous.  I did a little asking around about the mission and was about to join some of the old timers in setting it up.

Then came our Bay Area Ride Coordinator,  Buzz!  I walked over and said  "you've been nominated as RC"!  GBG  And he of course said "I can handle that".  So one of Ben's sons rode with us and updated Buzz.  We also had grandsons riding with us.  And of course got special riding positions in our escort.

Buzz giving us our say-once, half here.... One of Ben's sons is just to the left of Buzz, and Buzz was fourth in from the left..  He rode with us.

And half here.

I stepped out  to take some pics of the flag lines for moving to the hearse, one side....

Other side.  The Navy flag was held by family.  

We had a fine escort to the cemetery,  I was, along with family and others,  behind the hearse and assume it was fine behind me also.  Some of our riders took intersections, Slick John was one and family and friends helped also.

When we arrived and started to form the flag line, one of the two Navy troops there came up to me and said, "I need your help!"  There was only two and they had to fold the flag.  The Chief said he needed a bugler,  and I blinked...  kind of an unusual request.   Well it turns out that it's an electronic one, and you put it to your lips and push a button...  I said just a minute and went to the RC.  

Yup, Buzz played taps! Great on Ya!  Never missed a note!  I made sure and gave him a big congrats!    I almost broke my rule and took a pic of him, but I was too visible to the service.   Pics at a service is a no-no to me. Private time.

Again, a great service and a big loving family was in attendance, and their love was most evident! Sincerely, it was a great honor to attend.

PGR - Lcpl Nicholas Olson

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Another of our finest has fallen, in this case through a tragic accident at home.   I can only ask that he was having a great visit.  God Bless family and friends during this sad time of passing.

Panak stepped forward to do his normal great job as ride captain, thank you!  I was late to the service but made the final trip.

 

We were waiting for the service to end and join the procession to the cemetery.  Panak was second from right, partially hidden.

Sweet Ruby in front of the scoot line.

From the other side, and a nice looking escort, lots of flags.

We all arrived safely at the cemetery.  Slick John and Panak did their normal great jobs of road guards.

Another shot of the scoots after folks headed for the flag line.  

The service was well attended.  The young man was well loved.   God Bless and please celebrate the life lived.

PGR - LCpl Harry Lew, 21

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PGR was asked to ride in honor, and an honor it was.  Our Ride Captain Mark Z did an outstanding job as usual and thank you for stepping up.  The family wanted a private service so we were to do the escort up to GGNC and into the Chapel.  End of mission and asked to depart quietly.  God Bless family and friends during this time of passing.

I knew it would be a very large complex mission and I'm getting to old for them so I met the mission at San Bruno GGNC.   

Every overpass on the way up 280 had at least one fire engine and most had multiple.  Thank you all for your time to honor our fallen hero.  There was also a large police escort and it always looks great and makes the mission much safer.

I was quite surprised when I arrived at GGNC, cages and scoots everywhere!

Just scanning the crowd.....

Still scanning.

The group being called for a briefing.

Many scoots on the far side.  If I had to guess, I'd say around 75 attendees were waiting for the procession and many also arrived with the family and I'll guess over 100 were in attendance.  Thank you all for what you do!

We had a double line full length of the entry and out through the entry arch.

The honor guard starting to stage.

Another view of the lines.

The line of scoots where I parked.  4th scoot in was a '46 Indian and it looked to be in great shape, sweet Ruby on the far side and ALR Dist 13 fellow rider Gary R parked next to me.

I walked outside the entry arch for a shot of the fire engines, 3 and a great showing! The ladder later raised and had a small flag on top, very nice!

Congressman Mike Honda arriving.  Congresswoman Judy Chu was a relative and was attending also.

Just before the 21 gun salute and taps.  Great showing for our fallen hero.

PGR - Veteran Member of Post 419 Ruben Trujillo

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As posted to PGR:

The Patriot Guard Riders have been asked to form a Flag line and Escort Ruben Trujillo to his Final resting place. Mr. Trujillo was in the Army during WWII and was a Member and the past Post Commander at Post 419. He was also the Past Commander of Dist 13. He was 84 or 85 yrs young.

Staging: We will stage at Lima Family Mortuary in Santa Clara Ca. at 1130hrs. (11:30am) Thursday April 14th, 2011 for briefing and will form a Flag line as he is Escorted to the Coach.

We will then Escort Mr. Trujillo to his Final resting place at Mission City Memorial Park. Where we will Form a Flag line and give him the Honor he has earned. 

RC: TBD  Need someone from the ALR to do the Honors.    End PGR post.

And Mike A was the man to step forward and thank you my friend!  Mike is a District 13 American Legion Rider as were four others  attending and our friends Al R, and Craig.  We had seven folks attend, six scoots and a cage.  

Nice group and it was an honor to stand for our fallen veteran and past District 13 / Post 419  commander. 

We were lining up for the escort and Al R was in front with his large flags.  Mike A rode with him and showed the way.  When it was time to leave there were two cages behind the hearse and I followed with my large flag,, and the rest of the scoots.  John R was last performing road guard responsibilities. 

Our group behind the hearse.  L to R, Al C, Mike A, John R, Doug and all Dist 13 ALR riders, including myself.

A picture from the rear.

Between the two nearest posts, you can see Al R and Craig.

it was a short mission and well attended.  I saw many fellow riders and members.

God Bless family and friends during this time of passing.  Celebrate the long and good life lived.