Sonney Bohlman, 71, PGR Member, Army Veteran, Granite Falls, MN, 05, 06 NOV 09



Twelve members of the Minnesota Patriot Guard stood watch in Granite Falls, Mn, on November 5, at the visitation for Army veteran and dedicated Patriot Guard Rider, Sonney Bohlman, from the Marshall sector. His distinctive Honda Gold Wing, with his three flag mount, was parked in front of Wing/Bain Funeral Home, under a sign board that said, "Welcome Patriot Guard."

A mission briefing was held, and I shared a story of Sonney and the pennies that he passed out at missions, and his "bag of flags." His son, Metro SE PGR member Tim "Doc" Bohlman, and grandsons, Zachary and Evan, joined us in the mission briefing. Zachary is a career officer in the U.S. Navy, and we thanked him for his service, and said the Pledge of Allegiance in memory of Sonney. We all entered the funeral home to pay our respects, and saw Sonney's PGR vest and many pictures of his involvement with the Patriot Guard on display.

The details for the mission were then turned over to RCIC Chris Dunsmore, who posted members around the front of the funeral home for the two hour visitation. Gary Abbott from Kimball thought we ought to "keep him around" as Chris delivered coffee to the flag line. Many family members came around and introduced themselves, all telling us how important the PGR was to Sonney. A nephew of Sonney's, Mike, came cross country in his semi to attend.

Eight of us attending left promptly at 7 pm and drove to Marshall, where we attended a chili feed benefit supper for Sawyer Stevens, one of the injured students in the Lakeview (Cottonwood) school bus crash. His parents, Dan and Kandy Stevens, are Patriot Guard members in the Marshall sector, and we found other PGR members had also attended the benefit.

Friday morning, November 6, 13 members arrived in Granite Falls for Sonney's funeral. Many of us met first for breakfast at a local cafe, and were joined by family members. We then gathered at the church where I again shared the stories of Sonney's pennies and his bag of flags. As all three entrances to the church were used by those attending the funeral, four members were posted at each door.

Several of us attended the funeral service, and Willmar RC Ron Mackendanz, Worthington RC Paul Ramsbey, and myself stood with respect in the narthex of the church as the family filed in behind the casket carrying our friend.

The military honors were given on the church grounds, and the PGR members then went the two miles out of town to Hillcrest Cemetery, led by ARC Dave Mude and Bruce Knieff. Ron Mackedanz rode in the "Missing Man" position among the last five PGR bikes. Sonney's trike, driven by his son, Doc, led the hearse and family into the cemetery, where they found a perfectly straight flag line awaiting their arrival.

We were warmly invited to join the family for the funeral luncheon, and most of us were able to do so.

Sonney loved to see pictures of the missions he could not attend, and I had the privilege of taking pictures for the family of the PGR attendance at his visitation and funeral.

(@) Pictures from mission

(@) Video from mission

(@) PGR National Thread

God bless the life and memory of Sonney Bohlman,
Army veteran, Patriot Guard Rider, and our friend.


--
Alan Peterson/Bethany Hay
Marshall Sector Ride Captains
Minnesota Patriot Guard