PGR Mission Lawton Oklahoma Friday 6-27-08

Friday,6-27-08, the PGR was invited to participate in the funeral & burial of a U.S. Marine. The funeral was in Lawton Oklahoma at the Holy Family Catholic Church and burial was at Sunset Memorial Gardens, with full U.S.M.C honors. The Wichita Falls Chapter of the PGR went in support of our Oklahoma PGR brothers & sisters. We met at Missile Rd/I-44 Friday morning with kick stands up at 0800 hrs. Mike was the Road Captain for our group.
For those of you wanting to know about the PGR, what we do and what we stand for, please click on the following link: http://www.patriotguard.org/
Scroll down and see the post of the funeral of the hero. Scroll further down & check out more M/C runs/rides & events. Also, click on the "older posts" link at the bottom of the page to go to the next series of posts. REMEMBER: If you want to see the picture bigger, click on the picture....

The PGR group at the rallying point at 0800 hrs.

Barbara & Mike & Barbara's bike..That is "Bear" on Barbara's backseat. Mike is our Road Captain

This is Doug & his new Harley. We are former coworkers and now retirees..

This is Katie and her bike..

This is Lance & his new Harley. He just put new black pipes on his bike..They sound great..

This is a patch on one of the guys jacket. It says it all!!

This is a patch on Lance's vest....I qualify for the patch as I have been to the hospital twice because of m/c wrecks...

Here is a picture of Russ & his Harley, the "Black Knight"..

As we head out Northbound on I-44, I was showing 75 mph on the speedometer

Took this picture over my shoulder of Doug (outside lane) and Lance (inside Lane) while Northbound on I-44

Mirror view of Doug & Lance behind us

Doug rolling North on I-44. Ya can't see it but he has a cigar in his mouth that he was chomping on..

Lance passes me on I-44 so I can take his picture..You can see his new black pipes

The group Northbound on I-44, taken through my windshield

Took a break just after the first toll road in Oklahoma. We also met up with our Oklahoma counterpart, Curtis, the Road Captain for the Oklahoma PGR group.

Another view of the PGR bikes at the break stop.

Mike, Barbara & Curtis...Our Road Captains for this mission..

Leaving the break stop, we continue North towards Lawton on I-44.

Here is Russ on the left & George on the right as we continue North to Lawton

This is out of sync but it is some of the bikes lining up to leave the church & head to the cemetery

Barbara, Jake, Wayne & George at the church

This is Dennis, one of the Oklahoma PGR members

Here is Doug getting his cleaning rag out. He was going to do some cosmetic touch up to the front of his bike..Cosmetic as in clean off the bugs & fingerprints

Here Doug is, hard at it..He got it very clean too!!

Doug, Russ & Lance at the cemetery

Doug.... You Da Man!!!

Curtis & Shooter in the church parking lot.

Jake & his bike at the church

Katie & Barbara talking at the church while waiting word to line up

This is "Blue" a member of the Marine Corp League which also participated in the funeral

Mike at the church..He & Barbara are always on the go with PGR activities and charity work.

This is Mike's Bike. I do like his paint scheme...

A line of PGR bikes at the church

Another view of the PGR bikes at the church

A couple of PGR bikes & the pickup with the flags..

This is Shooter..Quite a character & part of the Oklahoma PGR.

A different view down the line of PGR bikes at the church

This is Wayne & his bike..I believe he is stationed out at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas.

The time to line up has come. We lined up with the police car in front, bikes with flags second, all other bikes, the hearse and family car

PGR members wait patiently for the services to end

Shade was at a premium and you were lucky if you got to park in some..

The bikes lined up waiting for the word to move out..

This is Russ's position in the escort. He was up near the front because he had a flag on his bike

The lead vehicles in the motorcycle escort. The trike was lead bike

A view of the trike at the head of the m/c column

The m/c escort with the police car as lead escort vehicle. The police stopped traffic at the stop light & at the entrance to the cemetery so as to let us pass safely and arrive at our destination. Thank you Lawton P.D.!!



As the service ends, the U.S.M.C. Honor Guard loads up to head to the cemetery

Here is a view of the PGR escort as we left the church & proceeded to the cemetery.

At the grave site, PGR members line up

The PGR line with the Marine Honor Guard behind them at the Sunset Memorial Gardens, Lawton Oklahoma

The head of the PGR line that lines the area the family will walk past. After the family entered and sat down, the PGR members moved and completely encircled the gravesite.

The Marine Corp League representatives that aided in the folding of the flag that was presented to the family of the Marine being laid to rest

After the gravesite service & just prior to us leaving I talked the the Honor Guard Sergeant & he gave me permission to take their picture. These Marines were professional & disciplined and did an excellant job. They are definitely a credit to the U.S.M.C. Thank you Marines for all that you do for us & for keeping us & the country free!!

Another picture of the USMC Honor Guard. Maybe I am getting old but I swell with pride when I see members of our Armed Forces in uniform, knowing the risks they take and that they are the best in the world.

After leaving the cemetery, most of the PGR members went into Lawton & had lunch at Chili's. We (Doug, Lance, Russ & I) went to Medicine Park Oklahoma to eat at The Plantation, because it was right down the street from the Chaps My Ass M/C Accessories/Apparel Shop that Doug wanted to go to. Here are Doug, Lance & Russ heading to Medicine Park via the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge..

Doug, Lance & Russ closing in on the mountains

A view through the windshield of Lance & Russ

Lance and Russ not letting moss grow on their bikes as we head to Medicine Park

Doug & the bikes as we park in front of The Plantation Restaurant

Doug, Russ & lance at The Plantation Restaurant



We ate & then went to Chaps My Ass. Here are the bikes parked out front. For more info on Chaps My Ass, Click on the following link: http://www.chapsmyass.com/

Russ inside Chaps My Ass checking the merchandise over



Lance & Russ put their purchases up and prepare to head for Texas & home..

Here is pic of Doug outside Chaps My Ass, Medicine Park Oklahoma

Another view of the parked bikes at Chaps my Ass

This is Janelle of Chaps My Ass fame..I know she works there and am not sure if she is the owner or part owner or just a great employee. We drive her nuts when we're in there..She is a great person and can help you with all your accessory and apparel questions. Thanks for putting up with us Janelle!!

This will conclude this post. Remember to scroll down for more m/c rides/events and posts. Also don't forget to click on the "older posts" link at the bottom of the page for more m/c posts........Until next ride/event/post, ya'll ride safe & keep the rubber on the road.......John