Mission
Report
 

SPC Don Grella, USA, MIA/KIA Vietnam (1965), Omaha/Laurel, NE, 26 SEP/03 OCT 09



Several car loads of PGRs from Minnesota and South Dakota made to trip to Laurel, Ne, on a rainy and cold Oct 3rd, for the repatriated MIA funeral mission for SP5 Donald Grella. Minnesota had at least 13 members attending from SW Minnesota, Albert Lea, and Maple Grove, and we stood side by side with members of several different veteran MCs and others. We were all warmly thanked by the Nebraska Ride Captains for our attendance.

The funeral was held in the Laurel school, and one of the things that impressed us all, was the number of parents who brought their young children to the funeral service for a man who died more than 40 years ago. The school windows were decorated with class projects honoring the service of their home town hero, who was finally brought home to his final resting place, after being MIA since 1965. Flags on uniform sized poles were provided by the Nebraska PGR to all who stood the flag line.

Many VietNam vets, and others, handed off their flags and entered the gym to pay their respects during the visitation, and two ladies walked the flag line, handing out obits and asking each member to sign a guest book. A family member in a wheelchair rolled through the corridor of flags at the entrance, and then along the flag lines on the sidewalks, stopping over and over again to tearfully thank the 160+ people standing the flag line. The Nebraska leadership walked the flag line and shook each of our hands, thanking us for our attendance.

During the funeral service, the road to the cemetery on the edge of town was lined with American flags, held by members shivering in the cold, and a missing man formation of motorcycles escorted SP5 Grella to his final resting place. More than three bus loads of Honor Guards from American Legions, VFW's, and others were waiting at the cemetery for the procession to arrive.

We all enjoyed an after mission meal at Laurel's fire department's building, and we were again thanked over and over again for attending. On the way home, we stopped at J&L Harley Davidson in Sioux Falls and enjoyed looking at the new 2010 bikes on the floor.

(@) PGR National Thread

Respectfully submitted,

Alan Peterson
Marshall Sector Ride Captain