Riders again staged near a Harley Dealer in Garland 0700.  Sunday started out with only 22 motorcycles.  Organizers from the Oregon PGR briefed what the ride plan and what were to do.  The NTX PGR briefed the Safety factors for the day.  The riders departed to visit the first family at 0915 with two Texas DPS officers providing escort. The same process was followed as on Saturday with the three Active Soldiers saluting and presenting the plaque to Warren from the Tribute organization who, in turn, presented it to the family. The poem presentation was followed by the traveling Gold Star parents sharing a hug with each family member.

Karrie Champion is the mother of Army Spc. Jonothon Gilbert.  Karrie was in her car all day Saturday making the visits with us.  Today we began by visiting Karrie in Rowlett to provide the Tribute plaque and poem.  After a portrait was presented to Karrie we prepared for the long ride to Mansfield; Karrie rode with a ride captain for the day.

Army Pfc. Jesse W. Dietrich was raised by his aunt and uncle, Aunta and Rex Southern. Rex rides with the NTXPGR quite often.  We arrived at Skyview Funeral Home for the presentations to find more riders and a flag line in place.  Channel 8 was there to film the event. There we also met Jesse’s son.  The Tribute presentations and a portrait were given to this family.  After a water break Rex and other riders joined us for another long trip to Weatherford where the remaining families lived.

Stop #3 was to meet with the father of Army Sergeant John J. Savage.  The Savage’s had ridden with us all day on Saturday.  We presented the Tribute plaque and poem with the portrait to be provided at a later date.  The Savage’s neighbors provided BBQ with all the fixings to a hungry group.  This was greatly appreciated.

Carol Hartley is friends with the Savage’s and was visiting for this presentation.  He son was Army Staff Sergeant Jeffery L . Hartley and was killed in 2008.  Again we made the presentations and we will provide a portrait to Carol in the future.

Stop #5 was special to one ride captain as we visited Jack and Diana Beauchamp, father of Navy Petty Officer Clayton R. Beauchamp.  Jack often rides with the PGR, especially to KIA missions and is a good friend to several of the PGR.  Clayton was a corpsman with the Marines, earning the title of “Doc”. As we rode in Jack was awestruck.  Channel 5 was there to film the event. The portrait had been given previously so only the Tribute plaque and poem were presented.  After lingering for a while we departed for the next stop.

Army Pfc. Austin Staggs mother, Kaye and her husband, Judd Jordan were the next stop. Here we met Austin’s son. As the soldiers met Mom and Austin’s son you could see the emotion.  The Tribute items were presented and the portrait will be provided later.

One Austin’s best friends, Sgt. Curtis Oakes was also killed with him.  His mother lives in Ohio but Curtis’s aunt and uncle, Bill and Debbie Haller, were also at the Staggs home.  They were recognized for their loss. 

Stop #7 and the final one, was for Army Pfc. Joe Robinson.  Again the front yard was full of family when we arrived.  Here again we presented the Tribute items and made arrangements for the portrait to be provided later. 

Sunday, like Saturday visited 8 families over a long day that ended around 730pm. The riders that made the entire day, especially those that made both days, were exhausted physically and emotionally.  I don’t think anyone would trade that time away for anything!