This was a KIA, three part misson.  We escorted SSG Carlos A. Benitez upon his arrival at DFW Airport on Thursday, October 21, to the Funeral Home in Irving, Texas.  We had approxiamately 45 bikes and 7 cages with four family cars involved in the procession.  We were escorted by the Irving Police Motorcade Department.  This was their first KIA escort and were very anxious to do a great job.  That is exactly what they did.  The DFW Airport police assisted them until we exited the airport.
Part Two was the visitation on Friday evening, 4 to 7:30P.  We had 18 riders and passengers come to stand tall and silent for the entire time to honor this hero.  The Army representatives were very inpressed with what we were doing.  They also told us how greatful the family was for us to be there.  Just before the rosary of Friday evening we brole ranks and departed.
Part Three- was the service and procession to the interment and the interment service.  Six PGR honor bikes with big flags were escorted by the Irving PD, as we escorted SSG Carlos A. Benitez's body to the church.  We stood a flag line commencing around 9:30A at the church, until the service began at 10:00am.  We stood down and furled the flags and prepared for the procession to DFW National Cemetery.  We had a 30 to 40% chance of rain all morning.  It held off most of the time, just a few drops every now and then.  At about 11:30A we proceeded to leave the church in the procession to the interment.  Again, the Irving Police Department as well as the fire department provided road security all the way to the cemetery.  It was an awesome site.  We had 60 plus bikes, five family cares, and more than 50 family and friend vehicles in the procession.  The police took us right down the main street in Irving, so that all could give there last respects to this hero.
At the interment full honors were given to the hero.  21 gun salute, taps, traditional bagpipper, and five Unitesd States flags were presented to the family and his two children.  He was also presented the Purple Heart Medal, and the Bronze Star Medal by a U.S. Army General.
We in the PGR presented five plaques to the same family members as well as a registerd gold PGR coin to the wife, along with a U.S. Army Flag, signed by the Patriot Guard riders present for this mission.  It was the flag that lead SSG Carlos A. Benitez from the airport to his interment, It was on the back of one of our bikes.

The family and the U.S. Army representatives were very thankful to all who had a part in honoring this hero.  I too, would like to thank each and everyone of you for an excellent job.  And a special thank you to the ride captains that help to make this mission successful.  There is no such thing as a perfect text book misssion, but if there were, this would be one of them.

You guy's and gal's of the PGR are awesome.  From my heart to yours,
THANK YOU and GOD BLESS.