SFC Wayne Lee McMillan, United States Army, Ret.

Wayne McMillan was born December 8, 1959 at Corning, New York and passed away June 10, 2012 at Killeen, Texas at the age of 52, after a long battle with cancer.

Wayne proudly served his country in the United States Army for 21 years and retired with the rank of Sergeant First Class.  Wayne loved playing poker, throwing darts, spending time with his family and watching his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys.

On June 14 the Patriot Guard Riders assembled at the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen and escorted the funeral procession the short distance to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, just south of Killeen.  The procession was met there by fifty American flags blowing in the southerly wind.

The United States Army Honor Guard slowly moved the flag draped casket to the committal shelter, after which the Riders formed a line of American flags around the shelter during the graveside service and military honors.

 

Captain Hoose, an Army Chaplain, led the gathering in the Lord's Prayer, read 23 Psalm and concluded with:

May The Lord Bless You

  May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you.

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.

(a Judeo-Christian blessing)

Several of Wayne's family and friends, who called him "Big Mac", then told the gathering of their favorite memories of Big Mac.

The Army Honor Guard then afforded to SFC McMillan full military honors.  The detail of five rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country.  Two buglers played taps.

The flag that draped the casket was folded into the traditional triangle and passed to an Army Non-Commissioned Officer, who presented it to Donna, Wayne's dear wife, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for Wayne's honorable and faithful service.

SFC Wayne McMillan was then laid to rest on the grassy plain of the cemetery, as the American flag at the top of the hill flew at half-staff in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, five sons, his daughter (a member of the United States Air Force), three grandchildren, his mother, four brothers, five sisters and a host of other dear family and friends.

Creation's Flight

With every changing season

The sky has seemed to say

Lift your thoughts toward heaven

Come and fly away

Through life there is a beckon

Toward a final flight

The seasons are preparing

A change from faith to sight 

And then one day it can be heard

Seems nature hears it too

The time has come to journey

To a place prepared for you

Rising toward the cloudless day

On gentle winds to glide

Toward that final season

Where eternity abides

by Sherrie Bradley Neal

With thanks to Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home for biographical information and photo.

Plt.Sgt. Willie McNew

Willie "Bill" McNew was born January 7, 1926 in Speedwell, Tennessee and passed away on June 5, 2012 at the age of 87.

Bill proudly served his country in the United States Army for 24 years, serving in Occupied Germany, Korea and Vietnam.  Bill was a career tanker and retired in 1974 as a Platoon Sergeant, due to severe battlefield injuries he had sustained in Vietnam in December 1970.

Bill's numerous awards and decorations include the Soldiers Medal, the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for valor, for heroism during what has been documented as the "Anonymous Battle", in March 1970.  The Presidential Unit Citation, the highest award  that can be awarded to a unit, was awarded to soldiers who participated in this battle by President Obama on October 20, 2009.
http://atroopheroes.com/about.html

Funeral services were held on June 11 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Copperas Cove, Texas.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the entrance to the church to welcome the arriving family and friends.

After the service, the Riders led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  Welcoming the family and friends were fifty American flags lining the roadway at the committal shelter.

After the flag draped casket was moved from the hearse to the shelter, the Riders formed a line of flags around the shelter as the Catholic Priest led the gathering in final prayers and performed the Rite of Committal.

The United States Army Honor Guard rendered full military honors.  The detail of five rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country.  The Army bugler played taps.

The American flag that draped the casket was folded into the traditional triangle and passed to an Army Non-Commissioned Officer.  He presented the flag to Erika, Bill's dear wife of 57 years, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for Bill's honorable and faithful service.

Platoon Sergeant Willie McNew was laid to rest on the wind swept plain as the American flag flew at half-staff, in his honor, at the top of the hill.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, a son and two daughters, their spouses, three grandchildren and a host of other dear family and friends.

With thanks to Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home for biographical information and additional photograph.

TSgt Walter T. Gentry, United States Air Force, Ret.

Walter Gentry was born in Pacolet Mills, South Carolina on October 3, 1924 and passed away May 30, 2012, at the age of 87, at his home in Temple, Texas.

Walter proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for over twenty years.  His service included aerial combat missions in the European Theater.  Walter was a prisoner of war during World War II, having been captured when his aircraft was shot down, in 1944, while flying over Poland.  He was a recipient of the Purple Heart.

Walter married the love of his life, Elise, on December 2, 1949 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

After retiring from the Air Force, Walter worked for General Dynamics in Fort Worth for over 20 years, as a Maintenance Document Analyst.

On June 4 a funeral service was held at the Canyon Creek Baptist 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, the Riders led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  There the family was welcomed by more of the Riders and fifty American flags blowing briskly in the southerly Texas wind.

After the flag draped casket was moved from the hearse to the committal shelter, the Riders formed a line of flags around the shelter as full military honors were afforded to Walter by the United States Air Force Honor Guard.

The flag that draped the casket was folded into a triangle and passed to an Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer who clutched it to his chest while the detail of three rifles fired three volleys of fire and the bugler played taps.  The flag was then  presented  to Walter's daughter on behalf of the President of the United States, the Department of the Air Force, and a grateful nation for the faithful and dedicated service of Walter to his country.

After the Honor Guard retired, the family's minister read from the scripture, 1 Corinthians 15, verse 58,  "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that labour is not in vain in the Lord."  He then led the gathering in final prayer.

TSgt Walter T. Gentry, a member of "the greatest generation," was then laid to rest next to his dearly beloved wife, as the American flag flew at half-staff on the hill above.

Left to cherish his memory are two daughters and their husbands, eight grand children, eleven great-grand children, one great-great-grandchild and many other dear family and friends.

With thanks to Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home for biographical information and additional photos.

CW4 Bobby Smith, United States Army, Ret.

Bobby Smith passed away at his home in Waco, Texas on April 23, 2012 at the age of 76.

Bobby proudly served his country for 26 years, beginning in the United States Marine Corps and then transferring to the Army.  He rose in the enlisted ranks to Staff Sergeant before attending flight school and becoming an Aviation Warrant Officer.

His service included a tour of duty in Korea, two tours in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot, and selection to the Presidential Flight Staff.

His love of flying continued after his retirement from the Army as he flew commercially for many years and then built his own airplane.

Bobby earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering through Embry Riddle University and used his knowledge to design and build electronic components for aircraft as well as computers and ham radios.

After his wife's death in 2002, he found a new passion in motorcycles and enjoyed traveling the country on two wheels.

An inurnment service, with full military honors, was held on June 12 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags around the committal shelter during the service.

The United States Army Honor Guard rendered the honors.  The detail of five rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country.  The Army bugler, standing in the shade of a live oak tree, played taps.  The flag that had rested against the cremains was carefully unfolded and refolded into a tight triangle, and presented to Bobby's son, Frank, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for his honorable and faithful service.

A second folded American flag was presented to Bobby's daughter, Marilyn, who is a dedicated Patriot Guard Rider.

The cremains of CW4 Bobby Smith were buried nearby, as the American flag flew at half-staff, in his honor, on the hill above.





Left to cherish his memory are his son, two daughters, a brother, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

With thanks to the Waco Tribune-Herald for biographical information and to Amanda Carter for additional photographs.

LTC Gordon Howard, United States Army, Ret.

Gordon Howard passed away on April 26, 2012 in Temple, Texas at the age of 88.

Gordon proudly served his country in the United States Army for many
years, retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel.  He lived many years in Arizona, before moving to Belton, Texas where his daughter lives.







During his years in Arizona, Gordon was a dedicated volunteer at the Glendale Library.  He was highly respected by all who knew him there, and is remembered for his smile, his hugs and his witty tales.

Graveside services were held on May 1 at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags around the committal shelter during the service.

A "cowboy" preacher spoke of Gordon's life and how he loved everything about Texas, and said the final prayers.

The Army Honor Guard rendered full military honors.  The detail of five rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country.  The bugler played taps.

The flag that draped the casket was folded into a tight triangle and ceremoniously passed to an Army Officer, who presented it to Gordon's daughter on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for Gordon's honorable and faithful service.

LTC Gordon Howard was laid to rest on the wind swept 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 his daughter, Barbara, two grandsons, three great-grandchildren and numerous other dear family and friends.



 

Safely Home

I am home in heaven, dear ones,

Oh, so happy and so bright!

There is perfect joy and beauty

in this everlasting light.

all the pain and frief is over,

very restless tossing passed.

I am now at peace forever,

safely home in heaven at last.

there is still work waiting for you,

so you must not idly stand.

Do it now, while life remaineth,

you shall rest in God's own land.

When that work is all completed,

He will gently call you home.

Ah, the rapture of that meeting,

Oh, the joy to see you come! 

 

With thanks to Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home for biographical information.

Sgt. Gary Miller, United States Army, Ret.

Gary Miller was born March 30, 1973 in Trenton, New Jersey and passed away May 5, 2012 at Killeen, Texas at the age of 39.

Gary proudly served his country in the United States Army and was medically retired.

On May 25 the Patriot Guard Riders led the funeral procession from Heritage Funeral Home in Harker Heights, Texas to the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, where the procession was welcomed by fifty American flags blowing in the southerly wind.

After the Army Honor Guard moved the flag draped casket from the hearse to the committal shelter, the Riders formed a ling of flags around the shelter during the service.

A minister read from the scripture and said the final prayers.

The Army Honor Guard rendered full military honors.  The detail of five rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country.  The bugler played taps.

The flag that covered Gary's casket was carefully folded into the traditional triangle and passed to a Non-Commissioned Officer.  He presented the flag to Gary's dear wife on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for Gary's honorable and faithful service.

Sgt. Gary Miller was then laid to rest on the 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 his wife and children, and many other dear family and friends.