Harry McGoon, Rush City, MN. 11 May 09

Seventeen Patriot Guard Riders rode up to Rush City on a cool but sunny Monday morning. We came to honor a Vietnam Veteran, Harry P. McGoon, who passed away from cancer at the age of 65. I arrived early and was there as the hearse arrived with only the funeral directors present. This gave me an opportunity to render a salute and show my respect and thanks for his service as they moved him into the church. An hour or so later as the family started to arrive we had our flag line set up at the two entrances to the church. By the expressions on their faces and the thank you we received from family and friends our group was again reaffirmed in our mission and why we were there. We had a six bike escort for the funeral procession to the cemetery plus two road guards to help ease the procession unto the main road as no formal funeral escort was present. Being a small town and short ride to the cemetery the family chose not to have a funeral escort service so our road guards were very much appreciated by the funeral directors as the road had a fair amount of traffic. The rest of our group of Patriot Guard Riders immediately left for the cemetery after standing an honor flag line as Harry was brought from the church to the hearse. At Calvary Cemetery they set up another flag line at the gravesite with three members at the cemetery entrance. It was a wonderful show of respect and honor for this veteran to see the flags waving as we rode into the cemetery with the procession. Honors were given by a VFW rifle squad and Army bugler playing taps as the flag was folded and presented to the widow. We stood down after the family and friends had all left the cemetery. Five of us then made the 110 mile run down to Belle Plaine to attend the memorial service for Vietnam Veteran Tim Olson. And we got there in time.

Note: An elderly church lady tripped and fell downstairs of the church as they were preparing for the luncheon, possibly breaking her hip. An ambulance was called and LEO was also on scene. I checked with the sheriff who was there about our plan for using PGR members as road guards and he thought it was a good idea and gave his approval.

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Larry Myslicki "Slick"
NE Metro ARC
MN Patriot Guard Rider