SSgt Aaron J. Taylor, 27, Hermantown, MN, 17 OCT 09



Started out Friday morning arriving at the 148th Fighter Wing Base to escort SSGT Taylor from the base to the funeral home. Being it was such a short notice and the uncertainty of arrival, I was able to muster up a couple members to accompany us. A great honor was bestowed upon us by being asked to stand in the military cordon along with the Marines and members of the 148th. After SSGT Taylor was placed in the hearse, we proceeded on the escort to the funeral home. It was amazing and heart warming to see all the people lining the route to pay their respects to our fallen Hero. Everything went as clock work.

Friday evening 15 PGR members, including a couple from Michigan who were vacationing in Brule and heard about SSGT Taylor, set up our flag line and stood in silent vigil during the visitation. Again, an honor was bestowed upon us as we were invited inside to witness the presentation of the Purple Heart to Aaron's father and family. After which we resumed our vigil until the end of the visitation. On a lighter note, as the sun went down and it got a little colder, a young woman came out of the door and it was like she hit a brick wall. "Oh my God! It's cold out here" she said. She was from California and had no warm weather clothes at all. Someone got here a blanket that she wrapped herself in and quickly went back inside. In a time of grief and sadness we could not help ourselves getting a little chuckle out of the moment. I guess it's one of those "You had to be there" times.

Saturday, over 30 PGR members arrived to honor SSGT Taylor for the service and internment to Aaron's final resting place. Clear skies made for a beautiful day and the slight breeze kept our flags looking great. Prior to the service, our State Captain, Doug Bley, Pete, Ross and myself presented a MNPGR plague to Aaron's father and another one to his mother. They both asked us to pass on their extreme gratitude and thanks for being there for them. As the service began we broke ranks so everyone could stretch, grab a cup of coffee and a donut or two and head out to the burial site to set up our flag line for the internment. Couple of us on bikes stayed back in order to escort Aaron and his family to the site. We had 3 PGR members who are ex-Marines and members of the Leathernecks included in the escort in honor of SSGT Taylor USMC. During the service, 2 bald eagles appeared out of no where, circled down a few times and soared back into the heavens. I'm thinking, being this has happened so often at military funerals that I have witnessed as well as others, that it's not just a coincidence? But that's just me!

After the service concluded we led the procession to the interment site. There were so many people that we actually rode thru the crowd as we were proceeding. As we rounded the last corner, the sight of our flag line was unreal. After the service concluded and the family departed, every member of the PGR stood in line to walk up to the casket and render our own final farewell to this Great American Hero. To witness this and be a part of it just makes me feel honored and proud to be a member of the Patriot Guard. Thank You, to the family of SSGT Aaron Taylor for allowing the PGR to be a part of honoring Aaron.

Thank You, to all of you who came to honor SSGT Taylor
Thank You, to all the new members who were there
Thank You, to the staff of Sunrise Memorial for working with us so well and your hospitality
Thank You, Major Audra Flannigan and the 148th Fighter Wing for allowing us to be included in the cordon
And a big big
Thank You, to Pete, Ross, Mike and ARC's from the Hibbing sector, our State Captain Doug Bley,and Karla and Geroge for all your help, support and guidance putting together this mission.
And the biggest
THANK YOU to SSGT Aaron Taylor United States Marine Corps for giving the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, for our country, for us.

(@) PGR National Thread

Respectfully submitted, Den Padora