Steven Derhaag, Army, Pine City, MN, 28 DEC 09

It was a bright 17 degree late morning when eighteen MN Patriot Guard members arrived to honor an Army veteran who was a tank driver serving in Germany in the mid 1970’s. The sun and temperature were deceiving as a brisk north wind brought the wind chill closer to a few degrees above zero.

We came to show our respect to a man who served his country and to help comfort his family in their time of sorrow during a season which is supposed to be joyous.

As we staged I learned the hearse would be arriving soon. When it did the PGR members already there hurried to the church entrance, and after helping to unload flowers, we held our flags and a salute as our fallen veteran passed by. We then returned to our staging area as more PGR joined and I held our briefing. We had our flag line in place when the family arrived. They very much appreciated our being there as Steven was a Harley rider, a member of the Jack Pine Riders and had ridden with us on our Patriot Ride. I offered my condolences and expressed our honor in being invited to attend. Many of Steven’s fellow riders were there and thanked us for our sharp line of flags flying in his honor. You could tell who they were by the many Harley shirts visible.

After the service started we stood down and warmed up in the church lunch room. The wonderful “church ladies” brought us hot coffee which we were very thankful for. We reformed the flag line from the church entrance out to the hearse as the casket was brought out after the service. The Pine City American Legion Honor Guard conducted the military honors with a rifle salute and taps as we paid our final respects to this veteran.

After we dismissed, a number of us stopped at the Am. Legion Post where the honor guard had already gathered. They thanked us for the flag line and for what we do.

We do matter and make a difference, not only to the families but also to these older veterans who are there and do honors at the funerals.

(@) PGR National Thread
Larry Myslicki “Slick”
NE Metro ARC
MN Patriot Guard Rider