Alton Young, "grizzlebear", Patriot Guard Rider

Alton Young, known as grizzlebear to his fellow Patriot Guard Riders, was born May 12, 1950 in San Antonio, Texas.  He passed away January 31, 2010, at his home in Leander, Texas, after a lengthy illness.

Alton worked in law enforcement, construction, and most recently for the Texas Department of Transportation, Aviation Division for over ten years.  He loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing.  He especially enjoyed his annual trips to Terlingua with the guys.

Although not a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, Alton was a proud, dedicated member of the Patriot Guard Riders, Centex and Austin regions.  He was known as a gentle soul despite his “grizzlebear” moniker.

Funeral services were held on February 4 at Beck Funeral Home in Cedar Park, Texas.  Patriot Guard Riders formed a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome arriving family and friends.  A steady rain fell as scores of mourners arrived to say fair well to this fine man.

After the service, the Riders rode in the procession to the Fitzhugh Cemetery in Hays County.  Although the weather was cold and rainy, Alton “soared in the clouds all the way there”.

Alton was laid to rest amidst the oaks, deep in the heart of  Texas.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Vicky, his father, two sons, a daughter, six grandchildren, many other family and friends, and his fellow Patriot Guard Riders.

The Twenty-Third Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd,  I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul.  He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness 

for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil: 

    for thou art With me;  thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:  

thou anointest my head with oil: my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all
The days of my life:  and I will dwell in the house of
The Lord for ever.

Photo of grizzlebear with American flag was taken on July 4, 2009 when he stood in a flag line supporting the right of a Navy veteran to fly the American flag at his apartment in Austin, Texas.


With thanks to Beck Funeral Home for biographical information.

Eddie Joe Sauls, Sr. United States Army Veteran

Eddie Joe Sauls was born September 15, 1948, in Temple, Texas.  He passed away on January 21, 2010 at his home with his dear wife Janie at his side.

Eddie proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1969 to 1971, including a 13 month tour of duty in Vietnam. 

After his discharge from the Army, he worked at the Olin E. Teague Veterans Hospital until his retirement in 1996.  He then worked at Chuck’s Bar-B-Q until he became ill on September 11, 2009.

He was a graduate of Temple College receiving an Associate in Applied Science in Mid Management.

Funeral services were held on January 30, 2010 at Greater Zion Temple COGIC, Temple, Texas.  Patriot Guard Riders were present to form a line of American flags to welcome the many family and friends.

On February 1, Patriot Guard Riders escorted the funeral procession as Eddie was carried to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen for his final interment.

Military honors were rendered at the committal shelter as the Riders formed a line of American flags in honor of this Vietnam veteran.  Taps was played, the flag covering the casket was folded into a tight triangle by the Army honor guard and presented to Janie on behalf of the President of the United States.

Eddie Joe Sauls, Sr. was then laid to rest on a gentle grassy slope, over looking the Texas hill country, as the American flag on the hill flew at half-staff in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Janie, five children, his mother, seven brothers, three sisters, ten grandchildren and many other dear family and friends.

Asleep

I’ve closed my eyes and fallen asleep
And there’s no reason for you all to weep;
This is a debt we all must pay
You will see me again someday;

I endured pain and sometimes sorrow,
Now I don’t have to worry about tomorrow.
BUT LIFE MUST GO ON.
You must not worry, because I am gone.

You all stood beside me all the way.
When I was down you knew just what to say.
You always told me to “get some rest,”
So let me sleep now, I’ve done my best.

So Please let me rest in peace.

The tears you’re shedding now,
Soon will cease.

You will soon realize this was meant to be.

I THANK GOD, I THANK GOD -
He came for me.

With thanks to Branford/Dawson Funeral Home for biographical information.

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.

Pvt. Joshua Michael Wyatt, USA

Joshua Michael Wyatt was born May 5, 1987 in Hawaii. He died November 24, 2009 after he was shot in the chest at his apartment in Killeen, Texas. He was on active duty in the United States Army at Fort Hood, Texas.

Pvt. Wyatt enlisted in the Army in April, 2006 and deployed to Iraq for 15 months in October 2007 with Alpha Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He came home in January 2009. His military awards included the Army Commendation Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal.

Pvt. Wyatt enjoyed drawing, writing poetry, dancing, music, playing basketball and golf.

Funeral services were held on December 1, a cold, blustery and rainy day, at Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen. Present were Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome family and friends as they arrived for the services.

Those Riders then led a funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery for interment services. There they joined other Riders, who had placed 50 American flags along the road at the Committal Shelter, in forming a flag line around that shelter as final services and military honors were held.

A detail of soldiers from Pvt. Wyatt’s unit rendered the formal military honors. Seven soldiers fired three volleys of fire, a bugler played taps, and a honors detail folded the flag covering the casket into a tight triangle. That flag was presented to his spouse. Other folded flags were presented to his two daughters, his mother and his father.

Pvt. Wyatt was laid to rest, in a driving rain, amidst a field of headstones decorated with Christmas wreaths, on the gentle slope of the cemetery. The American flag on the hill was at half-staff in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, two daughters, his mother, his father, a brother, three sisters and numerous other loving family, friends and fellow soldiers.



With thanks to Killeen Daily News and Freedom Remembered for biographical background and photo.