Petty Officer 3rd Class Brian Lundy, Jr., United States Navy

Brian Lundy, Jr., known as "Peanut" by his friends, was born July 29, 1986 at the Bergstrom AFB, Austin, Texas, and passed away on September 9, 2011, another casualty of the war in Afghanistan. At the time of his death, he was on foot patrol as a Corpsman with the United States Marines.

Brian accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Zion Rest Missionary Baptist Church. He sang with the Voices of Joy and was an active member of TCIA and JCIA Youth groups. He was a Jr. Deacon and early on demonstrated an eagerness to serve. He had a passion for animals and spoke of being a veterinarian. He loved his Great Danes, his iguana and his parrot. He loved motorcycles, which fulfilled his need to live on the edge and his need to go fast.

Brian graduated from Bowie High School, in Austin, in May 2004. He received a scholarship to Huston Tillotson University in Austin, and enrolled in August 2004. During this period of his life, he decided college did not provide the challenge and adventure that he was seeking. Determined to fill a desire to do more with his life, and serve his country, he enlisted in the United States Navy in May 2006. He completed Basic training and Hospital Corpsmen 'A' School in Great Lakes, Illinois.

Brian's first duty station was aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Ronald Reagan from November 2006 to August 2008. He was next assigned to the Naval Hospital, 29 Palms, California from December 2008 to December 2010. When he became eligible, he applied for and was accepted to Special Training as a Hospital Corpsman with the Fleet Marine Force. He completed that training in March 2011. He was then assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in March 2011.

Brian was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in July 2011. During his time there, he delivered a baby, treated an Afghani National for multiple stab wounds and removed a rock from the eye of a young Afghanistan boy. He had found his calling and his purpose in life. He was doing something that made him feel that he was making a difference.

Unfortunately, his life was cut short at 11:44 AM on September 9.

On September 14, 2011, at 10:00 AM, Brian made his last trip home aboard a Kalitta Charters aircraft, specially designed to return the remains of servicemen and women.

When the aircraft landed at the former Bergstrom base, where Brian was born, it was welcomed by a spray of water from two Austin Fire Department Fire Engines, dozens of Patriot Guard Riders, a Navy Honor Guard, a contingent of the Motor Detail of the Austin Police Department, his sister and other family and friends.

As the aircraft taxied into position, the Patriot Guard Riders stood quietly in front of their motorcycles. The Honor Guard stood at attention.

The pilots of the aircraft unloaded Brian's flag draped casket, which was carried to the waiting black hearse. Standing at attention throughout this process was a single Sailor, dressed in his Dress Blue Uniform, adorned with his many medals. This Sailor had accompanied Brian on this final trip home.

The Patriot Guard Riders accompanied the hearse in the procession, led by the Austin Police Officers, to the Cook-Walden Capitol Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville, Texas.

At 10:00 AM on September 21, a Homegoing Celebration was held at Sweet Home Baptist Church in Round Rock, Texas. In attendance were scores of Patriot Guard Riders from all over Central and South Texas, to welcome the arriving family and friends with a line of American flags at the entrance to the church.

At the completion of the service, the Patriot Guard Riders led the funeral procession, escorted by the Austin officers, to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.

Waiting at the cemetery were other Riders, fifty American Flags lined the roadway, and the Navy Honor Guard stood at attention. The flag draped casket was slowly moved from the hearse to the committal shelter. The Patriot Guard Riders, joined by the Austin officers, formed a honor line along the front of the shelter as full military honors were rendered.

The interment service began with final prayers by a minister. A seven rifle detail fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country. The Navy bugler played taps, as all present stood at attention and saluted or held hand over the heart.

The American flag that had draped the casket on the long trip home, was carefully folded into the traditional triangle and presented to Brian's mother, Ramona, on behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Navy and a grateful nation as thanks for his sacrifice to his country. A second folded flag was presented to Brian's father, Brian, Sr..

Brian was then laid to rest on the sun-drenched plain of the cemetery, deep in the heart of Texas.

Left to cherish his memory are his parents, his sister Joslyn, his grandmothers, his best friend Brandon, and a host of other dear family, friends, fellow sailors and Marines.

The world is a lessor place without Brian,
but Heaven is so much better.

With thanks to Cook-Walden Capital Parks Funeral Home for biographical information and to Amanda Carter for additional photographs.





http://weareaustin.com/search-fulltext?nxd_id=180397

http://www.kvue.com/news/Family-friends-remember-Austin-sailor-130245483.html

Alvin C. Carr, United States Army Veteran

Alvin Carr passed away on August 31, 2011 at the age of 83.

Alvin proudly served his country in the United States Army and was a veteran of World War II.

A funeral service was held on September 10, 2011 at the Branford Dawson Funeral in Temple, Texas. In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags to welcome the arriving family and friends.

An inurnment service was held on September 12 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery's Columbarium, at Killeen, Texas. Present to witness the service were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags to honor this member of "the greatest generation."

The urn containing Alvin's cremains was placed into a niche of the wall, and sealed for all time, and the American flag flew at half-staff on the hill above in his honor.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Maurice Miller, United States Navy

Maurice (Buddy) Miller was born December 27, 1968 at West Palm Beach, Florida and passed away September 4, 2011 at his residence in Copperas Cove, Texas at the age of 42.

Buddy proudly served his country in the Seebees of the United States Navy, from which he was retired. His service included a tour of duty in the Iraq war.

On September 12, 2011 a memorial service, with military honors, was held at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas. Awaiting the family and friends at the cemetery were the Patriot Guard Riders of Central Texas.

Six of the Riders, acting as pall bearers, carried the flag draped coffin from the hearse to the committal shelter. The Riders formed a line of American flags along the front of the shelter, as the minister led the family and friends in final prayers.

The Navy bugler played taps, and the Navy Honor Guard folded the flag that covered the coffin into the traditional triangle and presented it to Buddy's son, Richard, on behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Navy and a grateful nation in thanks for his years of dedicated and faithful service.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Maurice Miller was then laid to rest on the sun-drenched plain of the cemetery as the flag flew at half-staff on the hill above.

Left to cherish his memory are his son, a sister, two brothers, his mother and step-father, his father and many other dear family and friends.




With thanks to the Killeen Daily Herald for biographical information.

Augustine R. Longoria, United States Marine Corps Veteran

Augustine Longoria was born August 13, 1947 in Gonzales, Texas and passed away at the age of 64 in a local VA hospital.

Augustine joined the United States Marines on October 27, 1965, shortly after graduating from high school. He served in Vietnam for more than two and a half years. His duties included being a forward control radio operator. After returning from Vietnam, as a Corporal, he entered civil service and worked for 20 years with Army III Corps, Intel Ops Unit at Fort Hood, while also serving in the active Army Reserves.

Augustine's last six years were with CSA in Kuwait as a facilities supervisor.

He loved to golf and won many tournaments in various parts of the world. He was president of the Pan Am Golf Association and club champion.

On September 1, 2011, Patriot Guard Riders gathered at the Broecker Funeral Home in Salado, Texas. They led the funeral procession through the countryside to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.

At the cemetery, six of the Riders, acting as pall bearers, transferred the flag draped coffin from the hearse to the committal shelter.

The Patriot Guard Riders formed a line of American flags along the front of the shelter as the Priest performed the Rite of Committal and led the family and friends in The Lord's Prayer. A member of the family read an eulogy.

A Marine Corps Lance Corporal played taps, and the honor guard folded the flag that covered the casket into the traditional triangle and presented it to Augustine's dear wife, Susan, on behalf of the President of the United States, the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps and a grateful nation for his many years of faithful service.

The service concluded with the pall bearers placing their boutonnieres atop the coffin and rendering a final salute.

Augustine Longoria was then laid to rest on the gentle slope of the cemetery as the flag flew at half-staff in his honor at the top of the hill.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, his father, two daughters, a son, six sisters, a brother and many other dear family and friends.




With thanks to the Killeen Daily Herald for biographical information, and to Amanda Carter for additional photographs.

Perry Pritchard, United States Coast Guard Veteran

Perry Pritchard was born on April 16, 1925 at Rogers, Texas and passed away September 5, 2011 at the New Century Hospice in Harker Heights, Texas at the age of 86.

Perry proudly served his country as a Fireman in the United States Coast Guard, from 1943 to 1946, patrolling in the North Atlantic during War World II.

After the war, Perry settled in the Texas Hill Country where he worked as a contractor.

On September 8, 2011, Patriot Guard Riders assembled at the Belton Funeral Home in Belton, Texas. They led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas, where the arriving family and friends were greeted by fifty American flags blowing in the brisk Texas wind.

The Patriot Guard Riders formed a line of American flags along the front of the committal shelter, as the Chaplain for the Hospice said the final prayers and led the gathering in The Lord's Prayer.

As the Coast Guard Bugler played taps, the Honor Guard folded the flag that had draped the coffin into the traditional triangle, and presented it to Perry's dear wife, Dorothy, on behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Coast Guard and a grateful nation, as thanks for his years of faithful service.

The service concluded with the playing of a recording of the song "Precious Memories".

Perry Pritchard was then laid to rest on the wind swept plain of the cemetery, over looking his beloved Hill Country, and the American flag flew at half-staff in his honor at the top of the hill.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, two sons, one daughter and many other dear family and friends.

With thanks to the Killeen Daily Herald and New Century Hospice for biographical information.