American Flag Carried Across the Country to Marine's Daughter
PALM COAST, FL -- The daughter of a Marine who served in the Vietnam 
Sgt. Michael Gares died last week in Riverside, California of natural causes.
His daughter, 18-year-old Jennifer Gares, and her brother, Andrew, live in Flagler County and could not afford a plane ticket to fly out to his funeral.
During the funeral, which took place at Riverside National Cemetery, the Patriot Guard Riders stood in the family's place.
As a tradition, the serviceman's burial flag is handed down to a widowed spouse, a parent, or the oldest child in the family.
When the riders learned Sgt. Gares' family was in Florida and his burial flag was to be mailed back home, they stepped in, and organized a hand delivery.
"The way the vets feel, this is a flag of honor. It is treated with respect and a whole bunch of love from the combat brotherhood," said Ernest Tucker, a Vietnam Veteran.
For six days, the flag traveled on the back of motorcycles, from rider to rider, state to state.
Read the comments, too.
UPDATE: I forgot to add...a movie that also shows true American Patriotism and respect for our Fallen Brothers is "Taking Chance," an HBO production. I don't watch movies. HBO lost me a couple decades ago. I watched this one, and it's on my Christmas list to be one of the few movies I actually own.
3 comments:
The PGR is awesome. Here is a post from another blog that will have you in tears. Please have hankies close by.
http://www.littlegreenfootballs2.com/2009/08/02/real-america-still-exists-a-ride-along/
Huh, must have done something wrong. If you copy and paste on search it will take you right to it.
It's an honor to read about what the Chief took part in.
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