At the invitation of the Sgt Tutten's family, PGR was involved in honoring Sgt Tutten, US Army, 33 years old, killed in action in Iraq on Christmas Day. It was a very personal mission for me.
The mission went very well in terms of support from the PGR and the St Augustine community.
We had around 24 bikes and six cages show up at the St Augustine airport on a cold New Years morning. We lined our bikes up to escort the hearse and family to the funeral home, gathered our flags and formed a line on the airport tarmac to welcome the in bound plane. The family was there and the father-in-law walked the flag line shaking everyones hand and thanking us for being there. I was near the end of the line and we embraced and both of us cried together.
The charter jet taxied to the ramp and stopped in front of us and the family. The crew shut the engines down and an ominous quiet covered us like a blanket. The airport was closed to all air traffic until the the casket was unloaded. The military honor guard snapped to attention as did the law enforcement contingent and PGR. The door opened, a crew member put a ladder in place, and the escorts climbed down. There is a military escort with the deceased 24/7 until the deceased is buried.
The flag draped casket appeared in the doorway. Audible sobs were heard in the crisp morning air. Law enforcement, PGR veterans and military personnel rendered salutes. Non-veteran civilians placed their right hands over their hearts. Slowly and reverently, the casket was gently lowered into the waiting hands of the 82nd Airborne Division honor guard. With precision they loaded the casket into the waiting hearse. Salutes were ended as the hearse door closed.
Family members loaded into waiting cars and PGR members went to their bikes and cages. Motorcycles fired up. LEO's started the procession and blocked US1 for the eight mile (12.87 kilometers) trip to the funeral home. We traveled 30 mph down US1, LEO's had intersections blocked and made all oncoming traffic stop. Local citizens came out of business and people got out of their cars placing their hands over their hearts. Some were holding American flags. A city was honoring its hero coming home on his final journey.
Arriving at the funeral home, PGR quickly dismounted and formed a flag line as the flag draped casket was removed from the hearse and carried into the funeral home while LEO's and PGR saluted.
Family members thanked us for being there. We responded it is our honor. Quietly we disbanded heading toward our bikes and cages. Each of us lost in our own thoughts.
Late Thursday afternoon, January 3rd, about 18 PGR members gathered at the Greek Orthodox church in the bitter chill to form a flag line for the family and visitors attending the wake and prayer service. As the sun when down so did the temperature. We stood the flag line until the prayer service began and went to the church kitchen for some welcomed hot coffee. As the prayer service drew to a close, we reformed the flag line as guests and family exited the church. Again, family members thanked us for being there. Our feeling is that it is a privilege to honor a hero who gave his all for us.
Friday morning, starting around 10:00, bikes starting rolling into the church parking lot. The morning started out below freezing but the temp was warming nicely as the morning sun rose higher in the clear, blue sky. By 11:30 we had 52 bikes and six cages. We staged our bikes and cages to be ready to escort the hearse and family to the cemetery. We formed our flag line on both sides of the walkway leading from the parking lot to the church's front doors. Guests began arriving, the family came, and more guests. Just before the service began, the father of the widow came outside with a small child that was Sgt Tutten's daughter. As he was walking the sidewalk with her she must have asked about all the flags because I over heard him tell her that all these people were here because they love your Daddy. Man did that hit hard! After the funeral service started we stood down and took a break. Toward the end of the service we reformed the flag line along the walk and extending to the hearse.
The honor guard carried the casket out of the church with bells tolling and and placed it in the hearse for Sgt Tutten's final ride with PGR standing at attention and saluting. The hearse doors closed, PGR made for their bikes and cages while family and guests went for their cars. With LEO's leading the way, flag bikes in front of the hearse, and the rest of PGR behind the family, the procession moved slowly through St Augustine's streets. Worker's stopped and placed their hands over their hearts, people came out of their homes, and groups of people stood along the streets holding flags as the procession passed.
We pulled into the cemetery under a huge garrison flag held aloft by two tower ladder fire trucks. And advance detachment of PGR were in place with the flag line as we rode/drove in. At grave side, we encircled the family and guests with flags. The clergy said their prayers, the military presented their medals and the honor guard lifted the flag from the casket holding it horizontally over the casket. Silence descended. A sharp rifle volley rang out, and again, and again - three volleys. The the mournful bugle call of Taps echoed over the cemetery. There were few dry eyes to be seen. Slowly and deliberately, the honor guard folded the flag into a triangle, handed it off to a Major General who then presented it to a young widow with two small children. The flag, medals, and memories are all she has of her hero. Her life is totally changed forever.
Photos: http://s35.photobucket.com/albums/d174/CarlT100/PGR/
http://s15.zetaboards.com/Triumph_Motorbike_Di/topic/77497/1/#new
The mission went very well in terms of support from the PGR and the St Augustine community.
We had around 24 bikes and six cages show up at the St Augustine airport on a cold New Years morning. We lined our bikes up to escort the hearse and family to the funeral home, gathered our flags and formed a line on the airport tarmac to welcome the in bound plane. The family was there and the father-in-law walked the flag line shaking everyones hand and thanking us for being there. I was near the end of the line and we embraced and both of us cried together.
The charter jet taxied to the ramp and stopped in front of us and the family. The crew shut the engines down and an ominous quiet covered us like a blanket. The airport was closed to all air traffic until the the casket was unloaded. The military honor guard snapped to attention as did the law enforcement contingent and PGR. The door opened, a crew member put a ladder in place, and the escorts climbed down. There is a military escort with the deceased 24/7 until the deceased is buried.
The flag draped casket appeared in the doorway. Audible sobs were heard in the crisp morning air. Law enforcement, PGR veterans and military personnel rendered salutes. Non-veteran civilians placed their right hands over their hearts. Slowly and reverently, the casket was gently lowered into the waiting hands of the 82nd Airborne Division honor guard. With precision they loaded the casket into the waiting hearse. Salutes were ended as the hearse door closed.
Family members loaded into waiting cars and PGR members went to their bikes and cages. Motorcycles fired up. LEO's started the procession and blocked US1 for the eight mile (12.87 kilometers) trip to the funeral home. We traveled 30 mph down US1, LEO's had intersections blocked and made all oncoming traffic stop. Local citizens came out of business and people got out of their cars placing their hands over their hearts. Some were holding American flags. A city was honoring its hero coming home on his final journey.
Arriving at the funeral home, PGR quickly dismounted and formed a flag line as the flag draped casket was removed from the hearse and carried into the funeral home while LEO's and PGR saluted.
Family members thanked us for being there. We responded it is our honor. Quietly we disbanded heading toward our bikes and cages. Each of us lost in our own thoughts.
Late Thursday afternoon, January 3rd, about 18 PGR members gathered at the Greek Orthodox church in the bitter chill to form a flag line for the family and visitors attending the wake and prayer service. As the sun when down so did the temperature. We stood the flag line until the prayer service began and went to the church kitchen for some welcomed hot coffee. As the prayer service drew to a close, we reformed the flag line as guests and family exited the church. Again, family members thanked us for being there. Our feeling is that it is a privilege to honor a hero who gave his all for us.
Friday morning, starting around 10:00, bikes starting rolling into the church parking lot. The morning started out below freezing but the temp was warming nicely as the morning sun rose higher in the clear, blue sky. By 11:30 we had 52 bikes and six cages. We staged our bikes and cages to be ready to escort the hearse and family to the cemetery. We formed our flag line on both sides of the walkway leading from the parking lot to the church's front doors. Guests began arriving, the family came, and more guests. Just before the service began, the father of the widow came outside with a small child that was Sgt Tutten's daughter. As he was walking the sidewalk with her she must have asked about all the flags because I over heard him tell her that all these people were here because they love your Daddy. Man did that hit hard! After the funeral service started we stood down and took a break. Toward the end of the service we reformed the flag line along the walk and extending to the hearse.
The honor guard carried the casket out of the church with bells tolling and and placed it in the hearse for Sgt Tutten's final ride with PGR standing at attention and saluting. The hearse doors closed, PGR made for their bikes and cages while family and guests went for their cars. With LEO's leading the way, flag bikes in front of the hearse, and the rest of PGR behind the family, the procession moved slowly through St Augustine's streets. Worker's stopped and placed their hands over their hearts, people came out of their homes, and groups of people stood along the streets holding flags as the procession passed.
We pulled into the cemetery under a huge garrison flag held aloft by two tower ladder fire trucks. And advance detachment of PGR were in place with the flag line as we rode/drove in. At grave side, we encircled the family and guests with flags. The clergy said their prayers, the military presented their medals and the honor guard lifted the flag from the casket holding it horizontally over the casket. Silence descended. A sharp rifle volley rang out, and again, and again - three volleys. The the mournful bugle call of Taps echoed over the cemetery. There were few dry eyes to be seen. Slowly and deliberately, the honor guard folded the flag into a triangle, handed it off to a Major General who then presented it to a young widow with two small children. The flag, medals, and memories are all she has of her hero. Her life is totally changed forever.
Photos: http://s35.photobucket.com/albums/d174/CarlT100/PGR/
http://s15.zetaboards.com/Triumph_Motorbike_Di/topic/77497/1/#new
