Fay Harris, Jr., United States Navy Veteran

Fay Harris, Jr. was born on February 23, 1947 in Temple, Texas and passed away on December 17, 2010, at the age of 63, in a Temple hospital.

Fay grew up in Temple, attended Dunbar High School, entered the United States Navy, and served his country from 1967 to 1978, including a tour of duty in Vietnam.

Funeral services were held on December 23 at the Branford/Dawson Funeral Home in Temple. The family and friends then accompanied the hearse to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas interment with military honors.

When they arrived, they were greeted by fifty American flags blowing briskly in the Texas wind, and the Patriot Guard Riders. The Riders formed a line of flags around the committal shelter as military honors were rendered by the United States Navy Honor Guard.

The Navy bugler played taps, and the flag that draped the casket was folded into the traditional triangle and presented to the family on behalf of the President of the United States and the Chief of Naval Operations, as a symbol of our appreciation for Fay’s service to this Country and a grateful nation.

Fay Harris, Jr. was then laid to rest on the gentle sloping plain of the cemetery as the American flag flew at half-staff at the top of the hill in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are two daughters, a son, two brothers, three sisters and two grandchildren.

With thanks to the Temple Daily Telegram for biographical information and to Amanda McCurdy Carter for photographs.

Steve Michael Richmond, United States Marine Corps Veteran

Steven Richmond was born November 16, 1970 in Cleveland, Ohio and passed away, suddenly and unexpected, on December 19, 2010 in Temple, Texas at the age of 40.

Steven’s family moved to Temple, Texas in 1974. He graduated from Belton High School in 1989 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. His tour of duty included service in the Gulf War.

Steven left the Marine Corps in 1996, having achieved the rank of Corporal, and attended ITT Technical College in Austin, Texas where he earned an Associate Degree in Electronic Engineering. He went to work for Cirrus Logic in Austin for five years. He then went to work with his father at Jerry’s Radiator Shop in Belton.

Steven was a member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church, the Marine Corps League, VFW, American Legion, Knights of Columbus and the Harley Owners Group.

A Funeral Mass was held on December 23, 2010 at St. Luke Catholic Church in Temple. In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome the arriving family and friends.

After the service, dozens of Patriot Guard Riders, American Legion Riders and former Marines led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.

Waiting at the cemetery were other Riders and fifty American flags blowing briskly in the north Texas wind.

Full military honors were rendered by a Marine Corps Honor Guard. The rifle detail fired three volleys of fire, the bugler played taps, and the flag that draped the casket was folded into a tight triangle. Three expended cartridges were placed into the folded flag, representing Duty, Honor and Country. The flag was then presented to Steven’s wife, Silvia, on behalf of the President of the United States, the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps and a grateful nation in thanks for his years of faithful service.

Steven Michael Richmond was then laid to rest on the windswept plain of the cemetery overlooking the Texas hill country as the American flag flew at half-staff on the hill above in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, a son, a daughter, his parents, a brother and many other dear family and friends.

With thanks to the Scanio-Harper Funeral Home for biographical information and to Amanda McCurdy Carter for additional photographs.

Sergeant First Class Alexander Oge, United States Army, Ret.

Alexander Oge was born on March 7, 1928 in Ville Platte, Louisiana and passed away on December 16, 2010, at the age of 82, in a Temple, Texas hospital.

Alexander proudly served his country in the United States Army, and retired in 1969, at the rank of Sergeant First Class, having served more than 22 years, including service during the Korean and Vietnam wars.

He was an active member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans. He was a past commander of American Legion Post No. 573.

Alexander was a member of the Rod and Gun Clubs of Furth/Nuremberg, Germany and Fort Hood, Texas. He enjoyed fishing and gardening, loved good music and was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan.

Funeral services were held on December 21, 2010 at the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen, Texas. In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders, who formed a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome the arriving family and friends. The Riders then led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen for interment with full military honors.

Waiting at the cemetery were more Riders and fifty American flags lining the roadway at the committal shelter. Alexander’s flag draped casket was removed from the hearse and carried into the shelter by an Army Honor Guard. The Riders then enveloped the shelter with a line of waving American flags.

The Army rifle detail fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country. The Army bugler played taps. The American flag that covered the casket was folded into the traditional triangle, and presented to the family on behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Army and a grateful country, in thanks for Alexander’s many years of dedicated service.

Sergeant First Class Alexander Oge was then laid to rest on the gentle sloping plain of the cemetery, as the American flag flew at half-staff in his honor at the top of the hill.

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

With thanks to the Temple Daily News for biographical information and to Amanda McCurdy Carter for additional photographs.

Argle Lee Pearson, Sr., United States Army Veteran

Argle Pearson was born September 21, 1925 in Hardin County, Tennessee and passed away on December 8, 2010 in Texas at the age of 85.

Argle enlisted in the United States Army as a teenager and served his country by fighting the Germans in World War II.  At the end of that war, he went to work for Ford Motor Company in Hazelwood, Missouri, where he worked for more than thirty years.

Argle was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and served as Post Commander and District Commander.  At the time of his passing, he was a member of Post 9192 in Killeen, Texas.

He was a life member of the Shriners, and was a Lieutenant in the marching unit and also served as president.

Argle was always active in the community in which he lived.  He was a Boy Scout Scoutmaster, served as the treasurer of a citizens committee for better government, served five terms as Precinct Committeeman and two terms on the township board of auditors.

After retiring from Ford, Argle lived in Morris Chapel, Tennessee and coached his son’s Babe Ruth baseball team.

He enjoyed fishing, gardening, smoking cigars, drinking Keystone and barbecue.

In 1967 Argle married Grace Marie, the love of his life for the next 43 years.  Grace passed away on November 7, 2009 and was laid to rest at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.

Funeral services for Argle were held on December 13, 2010 at the Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Killeen.  After the services the family and friends motored to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery for interment services.

Upon their arrival, they were greeted by Patriot Guard Riders and fifty American flags blowing briskly in the chilly Texas air. 

The flag draped casket was moved from the hearse into the committal shelter, and the Riders formed a line of flags along two sides of the shelter as military honors were rendered.

Final prayers were said, a rifleman of the Veterans of Foreign Wars fired three rounds of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country, and the Army bugler played taps.

The Army Honor Guard then folded the American flag that had covered the casket into the traditional triangle, and presented it to the family on behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Army and a grateful nation in gratitude for Argle’s service.

Argle Lee Pearson, Sr., was then laid to rest next to his dear wife on the upper plain of the cemetery, as the American flag flew at half-staff in his honor on the hill above.

Left to cherish his memory are three sons, two daughters, five grandchildren, a brother, two sisters and numerous other dear family and friends.

With thanks to the Herald-Citizen for biographical information and to Amanda McCurdy Carter for additional photographs.

Link to news story in the Herald-Citizen

http://www.herald-citizen.com/view/full_story/7987771/article-Proud-to-have-my-Dad%E2%80%99s-name?

Link to memorial video

http://www.harpertalasekfh.com/video_popup.asp?id=16092&locID=41

Sergeant First Class James B. Triplett, Jr.

Sergeant First Class James B. Triplett, Jr., United States Army

James Triplett, Jr., known as Jimmy to  family and friends, was born May 29, 1973 in Burbank, California and passed away on November 28, 2010, at the age of 37, in Louisiana.

Jimmy grew up in Quincy, Indiana.  He proudly served his country in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana at the time of his death.  He spent his life serving and protecting his country.

Funeral services were held on December 7, 2010 at the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen, Texas.  Present were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome the arriving family and friends.  The Riders then led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen.

Waiting at the cemetery were other Riders and fifty American flags lining the roadway at the committal shelter.

Jimmy’s flag draped casket was moved from the hearse into the shelter and full military honors were rendered by the United States Army Honor Guard.  The rifle detail fired three volleys of fire, representing Honor, Duty and Country.  The bugler played taps and the flag that was covering the silver casket was folded into the traditional triangle and presented to Jimmy’s best friend and girl friend, Chantil, on behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Army and a grateful nation.  Folded flags were also presented to his father, James, Sr., and his daughter.

Sergeant First Class James B. Triplett, Jr. was then laid to rest on the gentle slope of the cemetery as the American flag flew at half-staff at the top of the hill in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his girlfriend and her three children, his father, two daughters, a sister, a brother and many other dear family, friends and fellow soldiers.

With thanks to the Quincy Herald-Whig for biographical information

Command Sergeant Major Patrick Roger Sirois, United States Army (Ret.)

Flags at funeral home

Police escort to the cemetery

Committal shelter at cemetery

Police Bugler

Police officers at the interment

Apache helicopter hovering overhead

Flag line at the cemetery

Flag line at the convention center

Rifle detail

Flag line at convention center

Officers at the interment

Flag line at the interment

Patrick Sirois was born June 8, 1960 in Hartford, Connecticut and passed away on November 23, 2010, at the age of 50, at Eufala, Oklahoma.

Because of Patrick’s short stature, he was not able to go into law enforcement as a young man, so he joined the United States Army in 1979.  He served his country for twenty three years, retiring in 2002 as a Command Sergeant Major.  His many military decorations and awards include the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal,  and numerous other service medals and ribbons.

After retirement he achieved his childhood dream, by joining the Department of Defense as a Police Officer on Fort Hood, Texas and was also a reserve officer with the Nolanville, Texas Police Department.  He was named Officer of the Year by the Nolanville Police Department in 2009, the first such honor for a reserve officer.

He was known as Pat to his family and friends and was loved for his humor and compassion.  It was his willingness to help others that took his life.

On November 23, he was traveling to Oklahoma with his fiancée, Karen, to spend Thanksgiving with family.  Near Eufala, Oklahoma he came upon an accident.  He stopped, put on his reflective vest and began to assist one of the drivers.   As he spoke to the man on the shoulder, he saw that another car was about to collide with the stalled vehicle.  He pushed the driver from harm’s way just as the vehicle was struck, pinning him between it and the guard rail.  He was transported to a Eufala hospital, where he passed away from his injuries.  Pat’s last act was to give his life to save another.

On Wednesday, November 24, officers from both Fort Hood and Nolanville traveled to Oklahoma and returned Pat to Texas.  As they neared Killeen, officers from the Army, Killeen, Harker Heights and Nolanville Police Departments joined the escort.  When they arrived at the funeral home, they were welcomed by citizens holding American flags.

On Tuesday, November 29, the United States Honor Flag was flown to Killeen to be displayed at the funeral and interment services.  The Honor Flag is an American flag that was flown over ground zero after the 9/11 attacks.  The Patriot Guard Riders were present at the Killeen-Ft. Hood Regional Airport when the flag and its escort arrived.  The Riders then escorted the flag to the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen. 

Funeral services were held on December 1, 2010 at the Killeen, Texas Convention Center, a forum chosen to hold the 1200 attendees.  Hundreds of police officers from all over Central Texas were present.

In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders.  They formed a line of American flags at the entrance of the center to welcome the arriving family and friends.

At the conclusion of the service, the Patriot Guard Riders rode in  the funeral procession with the hearse, family car, hundreds of  police cars, police motorcycles, fire trucks and private vehicles to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen.


As the procession arrived at the cemetery, an Army Apache Helicopter hovered above the entrance to the cemetery.

Waiting at the cemetery were other Riders, Honor Guards of the Fort Hood Police Department and of the United States Army,  and fifty American flags lining the roadway at the committal shelter, blowing briskly in the Texas wind.

The interment service began with a prayer, followed by the “End of Watch” Ceremony for  Badge 822 and Badge 1821,  performed by the Police Honor Guard.

The Army Honor Guard then rendered full military honors.  A detail of seven rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country.  A Police bugler played taps.  The American flag that covered the silver casket was then folded into a tight triangle and presented to Pat’s fiancée on behalf of the President States of America, the United States Army and a grateful country, in thanks for his faithful service.

A second folded American flag was presented to Pat’s son, Patrick, Jr.

The service concluded with the playing of Amazing Grace by a bagpiper. 

Patrick Roger Sirois was then laid to rest on the gentle slope of the cemetery, overlooking the Texas Hill Country.  The American flag flew at half-staff at the top of the hill, above, in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his fiancée, his son, a daughter, his mother, two sisters, a brother and too many other family and friends, fellow soldiers and police officers to list.

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

‘twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

With thanks to the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home, the Killeen Daily Herald, KCEN-TV and News Channel 25 for biographical information, and to Amanda McCurdy Carter and the Killeen Daily Herald for additional photographs.

Links to television news reports

http://www.kxxv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13599437


http://www.centraltexasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=13591111

Link to United States Honor Flag

http://www.ushonorflag.org/story.html

Link to funeral home for photos

http://www.obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Patrick-Sirois&lc=1795&pid=146827678&mid=4451878&view=photo&photoid=13990787