SSG Leroy O. Webster, 28, Hartley, IA, 01, 02 MAY 09



A very sincere thank you to all who were able to attend the visitation and/or the funeral for this Hero. Below is the mission report posted by the Iowa leadership. Your presence helped comfort the family during this time of great grief and honored the life of this soldier. The memories you gave to the family and loved ones of SSG Leroy O. Webster will live on for eternity.

Thank you for your support!

Paul

Mission Review-

Visitation May 1, 2009

40 PGR members were present to honor SSG Webster, his family, friends and fellow soldiers by standing the flag line during his visitation LeRoy’s family was so grateful for our presence today. We were hugged and thanked over and over.

Funeral, May 2, 2009

During our pre-ride briefing, after all the formalities of the day’s upcoming event were taken care of, I shared an email I received from SSG Webster’s commander:

I would like to personally thank you and the rest of the Patriot Guard Riders for protecting SSG Webster’s family during this difficult time. I am SSG Webster's commander in Iraq and I have no doubt that his memory will be well honored tomorrow in Iowa. SSG Webster is a hero to the Soldiers of Thunder Battery, 3-82 FA and we hand him off to you to protect today and tomorrow. Thank you for all you and the Patriot Guard Riders do, we are forever grateful. Respectfully, CPT Tyler R. Donnell CPT, FA COMMANDING

With the pre-ride briefing complete and kick stands up, we headed over to the school and assembled our flag line. What a beautiful sight it was to see 140+ Patriot Guard Riders & Rolling Thunder members holding our American Flag in honor of SSG Webster.

Shortly after the funeral service began, we “stood down”, everyone took a small break, and gathered again for a pre-escort / cemetery briefing. A small contingent of riders stayed at the school for the funeral precession, while the rest of the group went out to the cemetery to establish a flag line and assist with parking when the funeral precession arrived.

The remaining riders re-assembled to escort the funeral precession to the cemetery. Once the precession began, it was overwhelming to see all the people that had come out to show their respects to SSG Webster, his family, friends and fellow soldiers as the entire route was lined with Fire trucks, rescue rigs and community members standing quietly, some holding flags, some saluting with their hands over their hearts as the precession went by.

Once at the cemetery SSG Webster was laid to rest with Steve the Piper playing Amazing Grace followed by full military honors.

(@) Local news Thread

(@) PGR National Thread

A special thank you to the City of Hartley and the LEO for all their help and support. I would like to thank all the Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska & Minnesota PGR, Rolling Thunder and ALR members that came out to honor SSG Webster, It was such a great honor to be part of the final journey home for this Great American Hero.

Mission Complete-

Tara “Tee” Patrick

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Paul Ramsbey
Patriot Guard Riders
Minnesota Patriot Guard
Worthington Ride Captain