Staff Sgt. Clayton P. Bowen

Tuesday morning, August 18, 2009, Staff Sgt. Bowen was riding in a Humvee with four other soldiers to provide security for Afghanistan’s presidential election when it hit an improvised explosive device. The explosion killed Staff Sgt. Bowen and Pfc. Morris L. Walker. The three other soldiers were injured.

Staff Sgt. Bowen was deployed to Afghanistan in February, 2009, and was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division. He joined the Army at the age of 17. He was scheduled to return home in September on leave, and would have been home for his 30th birthday. Instead, he made his last trip home on Monday, August 24.

Left to cherish his memory are his Mother, step-father, step-brother, grandparents and numerous other relatives.

Funeral services were held at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas on Friday, August 28.

Members of the Patriot Guard Riders participated in the final honors rendered. Over 160 motorcycle riders rode as a group in the funeral procession from the funeral home to the cemetery. Approximately 25 other members were staged at the cemetery with American flags and cold water. When the motorcycles arrived, over 200 people formed lines of American Flags on both sides of the street, at shelter four.

At noon, a caisson bearing the remains of Staff Sgt. Bowen passed between the flag lines, and delivered his casket to shelter four for the rendering of full military honors.


At the completion of the honors, the American flag covering the casket was folded. It was presented to Staff Sgt. Bowen’s mother by Brigadier General Manuel Ortiz, deputy commander of U.S. Army South.

The ceremony was covered by local television stations and the newspaper.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/GI_killed_in_Afghan_blast_mourned_at_Fort_Sam.html#

http://www.kabb.com/vod/videoplayer.shtml


Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement

“The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.

We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. If doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives.

1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protester or group of protesters.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedoms of others, at home and abroad, please know that we are backing you. We honor and support you with every mission we carry out, and we are praying for a safe return home for all.”

Please learn more by visiting our web site.

www.patriotguard.org/


Photos - Flag line, shelter four and the cemetery.

Guy Barton Reding

Guy Barton Reding passed away, at the age of 84, on August 18, 2009, in Copperas Cove, Texas. He served his country as a Marine and as an officer in the United States Army. He retired with the rank of Major.

He left to cherish his memory, his wife, two daughters and a son.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, August 22, 2009 in Lampasas, Texas.

Major Reding was laid to rest at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, Killeen, Texas, on August 24.

An internment ceremony, with full military honors, was held at the Committal Center at the cemetery. Members of the Patriot Guard Riders attended the ceremony, and formed a flag line around the center as the military honors were rendered.


Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement

“The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.

We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. If doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives.

1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protester or group of protesters.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedoms of others, at home and abroad, please know that we are backing you. We honor and support you with every mission we carry out, and we are praying for a safe return home for all.”

Please learn more by visiting our web site. www.patriotguard.org/

Rory Caine Brown

Rory Caine Brown passed away on August 19, 2009, at the age of 32. He served his country, proudly, as a Tow Gunner with Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, United States Marine Corps. He left to cherish his memory, his wife and two sons.

A memorial service was held for him on Sunday, August 23rd, at The Apostolic Lighthouse Church, Georgetown, Texas.

More than thirty five Patriot Guard Riders attended the service. They stood in a flag line along the drive into the parking lot, so that family and friends drove past a line of American flags as they arrived for the service.

At the conclusion of the service, Riders formed a line of flags in the fellowship hall, as family entered, in honor of this Marine.


Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement

“The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.

We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. If doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives.

1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protester or group of protesters.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedoms of others, at home and abroad, please know that we are backing you. We honor and support you with every mission we carry out, and we are praying for a safe return home for all.”

Please learn more by visiting our web site. www.patriotguard.org/


Photos - Line of American flags, and motorcycles of the riders.

Robert Wayne Latsha

Robert Wayne Latsha passed away, at the age of 70, on August 8, 2009 in Killeen, Texas. A funeral service was held for him on August 19, followed by burial with full military honors at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery.

Mr. Latsha served his country as an enlisted man and as an officer in the United States Army for 21 years. He retired in 1976. His military service included two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was awarded numerous awards and medals, including the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Army Commendation and three Vietnam Service Medals.

Members of Patriot Guard Riders honored this veteran by attending his funeral and the following internment ceremony at the cemetery. More than 25 members rode their motorcycles to the funeral home, and stood in a line of flags at the entrance to the funeral home

Other members went, in advance, to the committal center and put out fifty American flags to honor this American hero.

Following the funeral, the Patriot Guard Riders rode their motorcycles, as a group, in the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery. Upon the arrival of the procession, the Riders formed a flag line around the Committal Service Center.

Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement

“The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.

We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. If doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives.

1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protester or group of protesters.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedoms of others, at home and abroad, please know that we are backing you. We honor and support you with every mission we carry out, and we are praying for a safe return home for all.”

Please learn more by visiting our web site. www.patriotguard.org/

Marinemajor

Photos - Photo with man in gold shirt, at the funeral home. Other two, at the cemetery.