Patriot Guard Mission-Camp Pendelton

My second Patriot Guard mission and it was a difficult one, but they all are actually.  Brian J. Pedro SPC U.S. ARMY, KIA Afghanistan 2010 age 27, that's all we knew but an opportunity to help support the family on a very emotionally trying day, meeting their son for the last time.  The "Dog Tag" above is prepared by the group for riders that want to have a rememberance of the service person the mission is for. 

Five members of our STAR chapter met with about 60 other riders from Patriot Guard, American Legion, Harley groups and others to help pay tribute to a fallen hero returning to his family.  Our group consisted of Johney, Stan, Chuck, John R. and me to join with the group and ride into Camp Pendelton Marine Air base in Oceanside to meet the arriving plane.  This was the first time I had ever been on The Marine base and it is huge, even though I saw only a tiny portion.

The reception on base was amazing.  We rode in a column of twos with the flags flying on the leading motorcycles, then the rest of us plus a few trikes and couple of vehicles bringing up the rear.  After the arrival and paying tribute we all left the same way we came in, but this time following the family and hearse.  We had a full police escort of police cars and police motorcycles blocking traffic with nearly all the traffic pulling over to the side of the road as we passed.  Officers handling traffic duty at the lights all stood at attention, saluting as we passed them by.  It was a reallly unique experience for me.

The actually rendering of tribute at the planes arrival and the family seeing the casket for the first time was beyond heart wrenching and I doubt there was a dry eye in the assembled group of riders or military personnel in attendance.

Pictures are at the staging area near the base entrance:

We all lined up and rode into the base, parked and then went onto the airfield to await  arrival of the plane.

Arriving home