Charles Otto Braun, United States Marine Corps Veteran

Charles Otto Braun was born September 19, 1927 in Walburg, Texas.  He passed away January 24, 2010 in Georgetown, Texas.

Charles was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having proudly served his country from 1946 to 1948.  Once a Marine, always a Marine.  He was retired from the Texas Highway Department, the Texas Water Commission and the City of Round Rock Public Works.  He was a member of the American Legion serving as First Vice Commander and was retired from the Georgetown Volunteer Fire Department serving from 1961 to 1986.

Charles loved to play dominoes, play softball and coach women’s softball, participating in chili cookoffs and he loved a good barbeque.  He was well known throughout Georgetown and Williamson County for his outgoing personality and his willingness to serve.

On January 28, over two dozen Patriot Guard Riders gathered at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Walburg to honor this member of the greatest generation.  A semi-circle  of American flags was formed at the entrance of the historic church to welcome the arriving family and many dear friends.

After the service the Riders rode in the procession, lead by a Georgetown fire truck, to the near by church cemetery.  There the Riders, again, formed a line of flags as final honors were rendered by a Honor Guard of the Georgetown Fire Department.  The flag which had covered the casket was folded into a tight triangle and presented to the family on behalf of the President of the United States.

A piper of the Georgetown Fire Department played “Amazing Grace”, and Charles was laid to rest next to his loving wife of 60 years, Emogene, as the angels softly wept.

Left to cherish his memory are his two daughters and two sons, ten grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and many dear friends.

Psalm 39:4-7 (Congregational Reading)

“Lord, let me know my end, and what is the measure of my days;  let me know how fleeting my life is.  You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight.   Surely everyone stands as a mere breath.  Surely everyone goes about like a shadow.  Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;  they heap up, and do not know who will gather.  And now, O Lord, what do I wait for?  My hope is in you.”


With thanks to Ramsey Funeral Home for biographical information.

Lloyd Stanley Rathmell, United States Army WWII Veteran

Lloyd Rathmell was born December 9, 1925 in Brownsville, Pa.  He passed away on January 11, 2010 at Harker Heights, Texas.

Lloyd Rathmell served his country during WWII in the United States Army and was at the Battle of the Bulge.  He achieved the rank of Tech. Sergeant.

After his military service, he married the love of his life, Dorothy.  He found a job in Cleveland, Ohio, became a volunteer firefighter and worked for 911 dispatch.  He was a Master Mason, a 32nd Degree in the Scottish Rite, a Shiners member and a Knights Templar.

He and his wife later moved to Killeen, Texas to be with family. 

On January 15, 2010, Patriot Guard Riders converged on the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen and formed a line of American Flags at the entrance to welcome family and friends as they arrived for funeral services.  The Riders then led the funeral procession to the cemetery for interment services.

At the cemetery, the Riders formed a line of American Flags along the committal shelter as military honors were rendered by a Honor Guard of the United States Army.  Taps was played, and the flag that had draped the casket was folded into a tight triangle and presented to Dorothy.

This proud veteran, a member of the Greatest Generation, was then laid to rest on the rain swept grassy plain of the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery as the American flag on the hill flew at half-staff in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of sixty years, a daughter and her husband, two granddaughters and many other family and friends.


With thanks to the Killeen Daily Herald for biographical information.

PFC Samuel G. Garcia, Sr., WWII Veteran

Samuel G. Garcia, Sr. was born on the King Ranch in South Texas on March 6, 1925.  He passed away on January 1, 2010 in Killeen, Texas.

At the age of 18, Samuel Garcia proudly answered his nation’s call to duty and served his country in the United States Army during World War II. He fought valiantly in several major campaigns including the invasion of Normandy, invasion of France and Ardennes, Rhineland.  From 1943 to 1945, his dedication, commitment and sacrifice were indeed noteworthy as America went on to win one of our country’s most important wars.  He was truly a proud member of America’s Greatest Generation.

As a youngster he was a top-notch cowboy on the King Ranch, and went on to a career as a master mechanic for the government.  He retired from the Civil Service.

Music was an important part of his life, and led him to form the band “Garcia and Garcia” in which he sang and played the accordion, guitar and saxophone.  He was an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.  He served as president of the Pan-American Club, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans.

On January 5, 2010 funeral services were held at the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home Chapel in Killeen.  Patriot Guard Riders were present, and formed a line of American Flags at the entrance to welcome the arriving family and friends.  Those Riders then led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery for interment services.

The Riders formed a line of flags around the committal shelter as final prayers were recited and formal military honors were rendered by a U. S. Army Honor Guard.  The American flag that had draped the casket was folded into a tight triangle and presented to his wife, Esperanza.  Taps was played. 

PFC Samuel G. Garcia was then laid to rest on a bright and sunny day on the gentle slope of the cemetery.  The American Flag was flying at half-mast, on the hill, in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, two sons, a daughter, three brothers, two sisters, seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

God Bless America

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,

Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free.

Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,

As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

God Bless America,

Land that I love

Stand beside her, and guide her

Thru the night with a light from above.

From the mountains to the prairies,

To the oceans white with foam.

God bless America, My home sweet home.

With thanks to the Killeen Daily Herald for biographical information.

John Coleman Treuhardt, "J.C.", US Army Air Corps veteran

J.C. Treuhardt was born on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1926 in Holland, Texas and passed away on Christmas Day, 2009 at Georgetown, Texas.

J. C. enlisted in the Army Air Corps while a student at Texas A & M and was trained as a gunner on B-29 superfortress bombers.  He flew on many training flights in Texas, Florida, Colorado and Nebraska.  He was scheduled for deployment to the Pacific Theater, but World War II ended one week before his crew’s departure date.  He served out the remainder of his time as a member of an ambulance crew in Fort Worth.

After his military service, he married, raised a family and had a long career as a successful architect in Georgetown, Texas.

On December 29, 2009, more than thirty Patriot Guard Riders from the Austin and Central Texas Regions gathered at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel in Georgetown to honor this World War II veteran.  Lines of American flags were formed at the entrances to the Chapel to welcome  family and friends arriving for his funeral service.

At the conclusion of the service the Riders led the funeral procession to the nearby IOOF cemetery in Georgetown.  The Riders formed a line of American flags around the burial site as military honors were rendered by an Air Force Honor Guard.  An American flag was folded into a tight triangle and presented to J.C.’s surviving spouse.  Taps was played, and J.C. was laid to rest on a clear bright day under a clear blue sky, next to the grave of his beloved daughter, Tami, who had passed away in June, 2009.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Doris, a son, a brother and numerous other family and friends.

High Flight

Oh!  I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of -
Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence.  Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air….

                                                              John Gillespie Magee, Jr.