MSG Robert Savage, USA, Ret.

Robert Farrell Savage was born December 5, 1936 in Andalusia, Alabama.  He passed away on March 25, 2013, surrounded by his family, at the age of 76.

Robert served his country in the United States Army for 23 years, including service in Vietnam, Germany and Korea.  He was a tactical communications chief.

Robert married Bessie Elaine Cooke in October, 1959.  They raised four children.

After retiring from the Army, the family settled in Copperas Cove, Texas.  Robert was a member of the Mason/Shriners and served as commander of the American Legion for nine years.  He served his community as city councilman for one term of three years.  Robert operated Savage Auto Parts for more than 33 years.





On March 28, an interment service was held at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  When the family arrived at the committal shelter, they were welcomed by the Patriot Guard Riders and fifty American flags lining the roadway.






After the flag draped coffin was carried from the coach to the shelter, the Riders formed a line of flags along the front of the shelter during the ensuing service.




The minister read from the Bible, Ecclesiastes Chapter 3, verses 1-8, and led the family in final prayers.


The United States Army Honor Guard fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country, followed by the playing of taps.



The flag that covered the coffin was carefully folded into a tight triangle and passed to a Non-Commissioned Officer.  He presented the flag to Robert's dear wife of 53 years, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for Robert's honorable and faithful service.




MSG Robert Savage was then laid to rest, 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, two sons, two daughters, seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and a host other family and friends.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

A time to be born, and a time to die;  a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.

A time to kill, and a time to heal;  a time to break down, and a time to build up.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;  a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;  a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.

A time to get, and a time to lose;  a time to keep, and a time to cast away.

A time to rend, and a time to sew;  a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.

A time to love, and a time to hate;  a time of war, and a time of peace.

With thanks to The Killeen Daily Herald for biographical information, and to Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home and Ceej Foy for additional photographs.

SFC Juan Rodriguez, Jr., United States Army, Ret.

Juan Rodriguez, Jr. was born April 28, 1957.  He passed on April 2, 2013, just shy of his 56th birthday.

Juan proudly, and honorably, served his country in the United States Army, retiring with the rank of Sergeant First Class.  His service included Operation Desert Storm.



He was an avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys, loved to fish and was very proud of his sons and his extended family.



On April 8 a Memorial Service was held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Killeen, Texas.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders of Central Texas.  They formed a line of American flags on the front steps, as the flag draped coffin was carried into the church by six bearers, including Juan's three sons.



During the service, his sons Juan, Jason and Jeffery offered words of Remembrance, and the congregation was led in the Lord's Prayer.  Mass was celebrated by Father Alex Martinez.



After the service, the Riders led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen.



When the family arrived, they were welcomed by fifty American flags lining the roadway.



After the flag draped coffin was moved from the coach to the committal shelter, the Riders formed a line of flags around the shelter during the
ensuing service and military honors.



Father Martinez performed the graveside Rite of Committal, led the family and friends in last prayers, and sprinkled holy water upon the coffin.



The United States Army Honor Guard detail of  seven rifles fired three
volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country.  The Detail stood at the position of Present Arms as the bugler sounded Taps.



The Honor Guard then folded the flag that draped the coffin into a traditional triangle, and presented it to Juan's son, a Technical Sergeant in the United States Air Force, who then passed it to the leader of the

Army Honor Guard.

The folded flag was solemnly presented to Juan's dearly beloved wife, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for Juan's honorable and faithful service, as Piper Todd Birchers, of the Austin Police Department, played "Amazing Grace" and marched off into the distance.



SFC Juan Rodriguez, Jr. was then laid to rest on the grassy 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, his sons and a multitude of other dear family, friends and fellow American soldiers.



With thanks to Ceej Foy for additional photographs.

SSG Enrique Medina, United States Army, Ret.

Enrique ( Rick) Medina was born on August 6, 1962 in El Paso, Texas.  He passed away at the age of 60, in Temple, Texas, in the care of his loving family.

Enrique was married to his elementary school sweetheart, Irene.  He proudly served his country in the United States Army for more than twenty years, having enlisted after graduation from high school.  His duty included service in Iraq during the Gulf War.  His assignments included service with the 9th Infantry Regiment ("Manchu"), one of the oldest and most decorated active duty infantry units in the United States Army, having been formed as the result of the Act of 16 July 1798.



Enrique earned many awards and decorations during his years of service, including the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

His favorite pastimes included "APA" Pool, (American Poolplayers Association), cars and traveling. Family time was, by far, his favorite activity.  He and his family could be found cheering on his favorite team, The Dallas Cowboys, on Sunday afternoons.

Funeral services were held on March 22 at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen, Texas.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the front of the chapel, to welcome the arriving family.


After the service, the Riders led the procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, just five miles away, where the family was greeted by fifty American flags blowing briskly in the wind.


After the flag draped coffin was moved from the coach to the committal shelter, the riders formed a line of flags around the shelter during the service and the military honors.


A United States Army Chaplain performed the graveside rite of committal, after which Crucifixes were presented to Enrique's wife and his children.


The United States Army Honor Guard rendered full military honors.  The Rifle Detail fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country, followed immediately by the playing of taps.The flag that had covered the coffin was folded into a traditional triangle and passed to an Army Non-Commissioned Officer.


 He presented that flag to Enrique's dear wife of 32 years, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for his honorable and faithful service.




SSG Enrique Medina was laid to rest on the grassy plain of the cemetery, over looking the Texas Hill Country, 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, his parents, Miguel and Eufemia Medina, three children, two grandchildren, and many other dear family and friends.

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

GySgt Kenneth Moody, United States Marine Corps, Ret.

 Kenneth Ray Moody was born October 8, 1930 in Olney, Texas and passed away on March 18, 2013, at the age of 82, in a Temple, Texas Hospital.

Kenneth grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas.  After graduating from high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps and served for more than twenty years.  He was a highly decorated Marine.  His many decorations include two awards of the Purple Heart.



After retiring, he worked for the Texas Department of Public Safety for ten years.  He was a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the DAV.



Kenneth married Joan Crawford on September 2, 1949 in Wichita Falls.  They brought forth a family of two sons, six grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and two great-great-children.




On March 22 an interment service was held at the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  When the family arrived for the service, they were welcomed by the Patriot Guard Riders and fifty American flags lining the roadway of the committal shelter.

After the United States Marine Corps Honor Guard  placed Kenneth's cremains, and a folded flag, on a simple table,  the Riders formed a line of flags around the shelter during the ensuing service and military honors.




The Reverend Darren Walker offered final thoughts and prayers to the family.  He spoke of the ceremonial scarf that he wore; decorated with butterflies.  He said he wears it at Easter and at funerals, for the butterflies represent resurrection and freedom.



 After the final prayers,  the American flag that had rested next to the cremains, was unfolded and held aloft by two Non-Commissioned Officers, during the military honors.

 The  detail of seven Non-Commissioned Officers, commanded by a saber-armed Staff Sergeant, fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country, followed immediately by the playing of taps.



 The flag was carefully refolded into a tight triangle and three spent cartridges were tucked into its folds.



The flag was presented to Kenneth's dear wife, by a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant, on behalf of the President of the United States, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and a grateful nation, as a symbol of appreciation for Kenneth's service to Country and Corps.



The cremains of Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Kenneth Moody were then buried in a special area on the shoulder of the hill of the cemetery, as the American flag flew at half-staff above in his honor.






Left to cherish his memory are his extended family and many other dear friends.




With thanks to Dossman Funeral Home for biographical information and photograph.

Lloyd Wesley Jackson, United States Army Veteran

Lloyd Wesley Jackson was born in Smithville, Texas on June 29, 1937 and passed away March 15, 2013 at the age of 75.


As boy, Lloyd helped out at
the ice house in Belton, Texas and delivered ice house to house.  He married Gloyice Kimbro of Georgetown, Texas in 1966.  They then had their one, and only, son, Stacy Joe Jackson.

Lloyd proudly served his country in the United States Army and retired from civil service.  His dear wife passed away in July 1981.  He was a member of the DAV.

On March 25, a memorial service was held at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen.  When the family arrived for the service, they were welcomed by the Patriot Guard Riders and fifty American flags blowing briskly in the Texas wind.



During the service, the Riders formed a line of flags along the front of the committal shelter.  Presiding over the service was the family physician, A. Lloyd Jones, M.D.  who briefly addressed the gathered family and friends.  Also speaking, was Lloyd's brother-in-law who told of how he was there when Stacy was born, all those years ago.

During the service, a folded American flag rested upon a simple folding table alongside a frame of photos.  As Lloyd had chosen to donate his remains to medical research, there was no coffin or urn.

Military honors were afforded to Lloyd by an Army Honor Detail.  The bugler played taps.  The flag that rested on the table was carefully unfolded and refolded into the traditional triangle and passed to the father of Stacy's wife.  He then, aided by the Army Staff Sergeant, presented the flag to Stacy on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for Lloyd's honorable and faithful service.





Left to cherish his memory are his son and his wife, four grandchildren and numerous other dear family and friends.

With thanks to the Jackson family for biographical information and photograph.

 












"Do not stand at my grave and weep.  I am not there.  I do not sleep.  I am a thousand winds that blow.  I am the diamond glint on snow.  I am the sun on ripening grain.  I am the gentle autumn rain, when you awaken in the morning's hushed light.  I am the up-fling of birds in flight.  I am the soft star that shines at night.  Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there.  I did not die."