This is a completed mission report for the mission to honor Dennis L. Welcome memorial services on September 18, 2008 as requested by the family. Dennis was 66, and passed away unexpectedly 11 Oct 2008 at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, MN. Denny was in the Army from 63-66 and was in Panama. He got out and worked at Honeywell, then rejoined the Army Reserves and put in over 30 years. He made numerous trips to Korea and to Germany during this time. He retired after 33 years of service to this country! He achieved the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CWO4). The memorial service was on Saturday 2 PM at the Sorenson-Root-Thompson Funeral Home in Aitkin, MN with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment was in the Waukenabo Cemetery.

A number of PGR members, bikes and vehicles, joined up at the Fleet Farm store in Brainerd to ride together to the mission staging and while there a lady (mother of a Marine) came over and hugged each one of us and thanked us for what we do saying she was very grateful for the support we provide. It was an inspiring exchange and was a super way to start off an honor mission.

Staging:
We staged at the Landing restaurant in Aitkin, did a briefing, welcomed new members, said the Pledge of Allegiance and said a prayer for the success of our mission and healing for this family plus we included two of our members in the prayer that needed healing. We had 17 bikes and 27 people show up including bikes from as far as 150 miles and from several different sectors on a day that started out below freezing in most areas of Minnesota. What a wonderful dedicated bunch of patriots.

Service:
We rode together as a group to the Funeral Home and set up the flag line prior to the visitation. We had many family members go along the entire line and thank us for being there and there were more family members taking our picture than at any other mission I have done. The family also present the RCIC with a card signed by all family members with a donation of 340.00 for the PGR. It is always so humbling to be trying to help someone through their grief and find out that they are thinking of us on the flagline during their grieving process.

The service turned out to be huge and the parking lot was soon full. PGR members took over parking duties getting all mourners in a parking spot without incident except for one lol (little old lady) who damaged two cars before we took over parking duties. A PGR member did park her car for her when it was obvious there was about to be more mayhem. Many people thanked us for out service and one cute little kid got to sit on a Milwaukee vibrator while it was running. There were other kids who sat on Starr's bike and had their pictures taken.

The family asked that all PGR members signed the register/guest book.

Escort:
After the service which was a brief one we were asked to do an escort to the Waukenabo Cemetery which turned out to be about 20 miles north. This turned out to be a mission where there was a payoff for members beyond the good feelings we get for doing an honor mission as the day got sunny and warm and the colors were just about prime on this ride in the country. All members not on the escort were dismissed early so there could be a flag line set up prior to the family arriving at the cemetery.

We had 10 bikes for the escort but we had trouble starting 3 of them. We eventually got all but one of them started. We need to get anti freeze into those bikes at this time of year!

We had a police escort and traffic control through Aitkin. The ride to the cemetery was uneventful but there was about a mile of gravel road and parking problems awaiting us at the cemetery. The VFW and the American Legion did the military honors and the playing of taps. We could not hold the flagline until all the family left due to the parking problem and we had to get out of the way for mourners to be able to leave.

Debriefing:
Debriefing was brief and was held at the Aitkin VFW. We did lose one bike to a tow truck to the Brainerd Harley repair shop.

Seeing all the dedication and patriotism of our PGR members was just plain heartwarming and we in Brainerd leadership are grateful for the honor of being able to stand beside you. No words can describe the feeling we have in being with you before, during and after a mission. A sincere thank you for all you do.

We also got 2 new members in the Brainerd Sector. One of them came with someone else just to see what it was all about. He said he decided to join before the day was half through, and felt the humbleness and pride we all experience while on the line. Welcome aboard John, we all look forward to serving with you on our future flaglines!

(@) Thank you from family

Starr Marshall RCIC
Brainerd RC

James C. Parent PA
12703 Fish Lake Drive
Little Falls, MN. 56345
Phone: 320-632-5893