Posted on Feb 25, 2017
Bikers Heard This Marine's Remains Were Coming Home in a USPS Box. They Couldn't Let That Happen....
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RP Members and Connections I wanted to share this story with you this morning. This makes me proud to be a veteran and a member of the Colorado PGR. May Staff Sergeant Jonathan Turner Rest and Peace and never be forgotten!
The Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) is an organization based in the United States whose members attend the funerals of members of the U.S. military, firefighters, and police at the invitation of a decedent’s family.
The group forms an honor guard at military burials, helps protect mourners from harassment and fills out the ranks at burials of indigent and homeless veterans. In addition to attending funerals, the group also greets troops returning from overseas at homecoming celebrations and performs volunteer work for veteran’s organizations such as Veterans Homes according Wikipedia.
Staff Sergeant Jonathan Turner served seven tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and died last week in California from combat-related injuries.
His mother was unable to make the trip from Georgia to California for the funeral and the Marine Corps handled all of the funeral arrangements – including shipping Staff Sergeant ashes back home.
And that didn’t sit well with Patriot Guard riders, so they stepped up by creating a caravan and personally escorting SSgt Turner’s remains all the way across the country. It was an operation that involved hundreds of volunteers and thousands of miles ridden.
The Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) is an organization based in the United States whose members attend the funerals of members of the U.S. military, firefighters, and police at the invitation of a decedent’s family.
The group forms an honor guard at military burials, helps protect mourners from harassment and fills out the ranks at burials of indigent and homeless veterans. In addition to attending funerals, the group also greets troops returning from overseas at homecoming celebrations and performs volunteer work for veteran’s organizations such as Veterans Homes according Wikipedia.
Staff Sergeant Jonathan Turner served seven tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and died last week in California from combat-related injuries.
His mother was unable to make the trip from Georgia to California for the funeral and the Marine Corps handled all of the funeral arrangements – including shipping Staff Sergeant ashes back home.
And that didn’t sit well with Patriot Guard riders, so they stepped up by creating a caravan and personally escorting SSgt Turner’s remains all the way across the country. It was an operation that involved hundreds of volunteers and thousands of miles ridden.
Bikers Heard This Marine's Remains Were Coming Home in a USPS Box. They Couldn't Let That Happen....
Posted from tribunist.com
Patriot Guard
Fallen Soldiers
Motorcycles
CVMA
American Legion Riders
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 40
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Just goes to show how far a Brother will go for a Brother, God bless the United States Marine Corps....As far as it takes....S/F
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Maj John D Benedict
Amen Alan K. I am proud of folks like these. Makes me want to go buy a bike and join them.
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SPC Douglas Bolton
I have heard so many good things about this group. They took a WWII veteran who has passed all the way by motorcade to the National Cemetery in George. He was a forgotten man except for that.
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SPC Douglas Bolton
Alan K. - very true. I think of the those are honored at the tomb of the unknown soldier.
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Thanks Sir, I too am a member of the PGR here in E. TN- My way of keeping the faith and paying back. I may cry at times thru the mission, but in the end I feel better for getting my brothers and sisters back home to their families.
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SFC William H.
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter - Thank you SMsgt McCarter. Did not mean it that way. I meant no disrespect. I am Cdr of the Military Funeral Honors Program for VFW Post #919, Trenton, MO. I failed to mention that I get emotional too. Facing widows and the family members is not always easy. You take care.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
SFC William H. - Not sure what You mean, I never detected any lack of respect, I usually wouldn't admit getting emotional either but sometimes its not easy and I feel I have to keep My composure for the families. They would understand I'm sure but i try to keep My Military bearing and not bring attention to Myself. its not always easy esp when You see the families.
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GySgt Kenneth Pepper
I spent 3 years on I&I staff as the color SGT in upstate NY (pre 9/11). Presided over countless funerals and presented hundreds of folded flags, mostly Korea and WW11 era vets. It became slightly easier each time, as the veterans being interred had obviously led full lives and had friends and families that truly cared.
But every so often one would affect me and it would be difficult to maintain. On more than one occasion I had to take a serious bite out of my lip to avoid tears dripping onto the flag being presented.
Once, out of the blue, the son of an active duty 1SGT we were laying to rest asked me to say a few words. I had been warned in advance to always have something ready, so I turned to the family and said "The last line of the Marines' Hymn states that streets of heaven are guarded by United States Marines".
I turned to the casket and issued the order "Assume your post, 1SGT".
We never let one of our own go without making sure the family knows that we stand together, Always Faithful.
But every so often one would affect me and it would be difficult to maintain. On more than one occasion I had to take a serious bite out of my lip to avoid tears dripping onto the flag being presented.
Once, out of the blue, the son of an active duty 1SGT we were laying to rest asked me to say a few words. I had been warned in advance to always have something ready, so I turned to the family and said "The last line of the Marines' Hymn states that streets of heaven are guarded by United States Marines".
I turned to the casket and issued the order "Assume your post, 1SGT".
We never let one of our own go without making sure the family knows that we stand together, Always Faithful.
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